YORK, Pa. – Paige Moriarty's goal with 5:07 left in the game proved to be the difference as No. 3 Franklin & Marshall defeated No. 8 York 9-8 in NCAA women's lacrosse action Thursday afternoon. The Diplomats improved to 1-0, and the Spartans dropped to 1-1. 

F&M jumped out to an early 3-0 lead just six minutes into action. Moriarty found Katie Groenke for the first score at 26:03 and scored unassisted a little over a minute later for a 2-0 F&M edge. Groenke buried a feed from Grace Saliba to make it 3-0 and the Spartans picked up their first point at 21:03.

Maddie Hughes made it 4-1 before York tallied three straight and tied the game at 4-4 at 12:35. Claire Jackson made it 5-4 at 8:31 and the score remained the same at the break.

York tied the game at 5-5 early in the second, and the Diplomats answered with three straight and took an 8-5 lead at 19:28. Gabby Frank started the run with a tally off a pass from Saliba and Siobhan Burke found Moriarty for the score. Jackson made it 8-5, and the Spartans countered with three straight and tied the game at 8-8. F&M answered on its next possession when Moriarty finished off a pass from Groenke for the game-winner.

Moriarty finished with three goals and an assist while Jackson and Groenke each scored twice. Frank and Hughes both tallied a goal, and Saliba finished with two helpers.

Samantha Blicht caused three turnovers and collected three ground balls and Caroline Doran, Stephanie Speese, Sarah Bozzo and Madison Valerio all scooped up two ground balls each. 

Danielle Harrington picked up the win with five saves while Charlotte Wright took the loss with five stops.

F&M outshot York 22-19, held a slight 17-14 edge in ground balls and went 13-for-14 in clear attempts.

F&M returns to action on Saturday when the Diplomats host Washington & Lee at 1:00 p.m.