LANCASTER, Pa. – Sean Rogers scored five goals and handed out three assists to help deliver Franklin & Marshall a narrow 9-8 victory over McDaniel in Centennial Conference (CC) action Saturday afternoon at Tylus Field. The Diplomats improved to 9-3, 3-1 CC with the win while the Green Terror dropped to 2-9, 0-4 CC.

F&M took an early edge when Rogers found Mike Rama 2:31 into the game, but McDaniel answered a minute later and tied the game at 1-1. Wes Rhudy buried a pass from Rogers at 7:47 for a 2-1 F&M lead, but the Green Terror answered again and tied the game at 2-2, before the Diplomats scored two straight to close out the opening quarter. Rogers finished off a pass from Brendan Kenavan for the first tally and Michael Bossidy found twine when he netted a pass from Mike Rama with 2:33 left in the quarter.

McDaniel came within a goal, 4-3, early in the second, but the Diplomats quickly went up 6-3 with goals from Mike Wasik and Rogers. Rogers assisted on the first goal, and Harry Rice picked up the helper on the second score. The Green Terror answered with the last point of the first half to make it 6-4 at the break and scored the first goal of the third quarter to come within one, 6-5, just 58 seconds into the second half.

F&M countered when Rogers scored back-to-back goals to put F&M up 8-5 at the end of the third. Michael Long brought McDaniel within two, 8-6, early in the fourth quarter, but Rogers picked up his last score at 7:24 to give F&M a 9-6 advantage. McDaniel responded with two goals and made it a one-point game, 9-8, with 2:54 left to play. The Green Terror had a chance with under a minute to play, but Tommy O'Connor forced a turnover, giving F&M the ball back. However, the Diplomats turned the ball over on the ensuing possession with 24 seconds left, but the Green Terror were unable to capitalize as time ran out.

Rogers' production marks the second game this season the sophomore has finished with eight points, and it is the 11th time he has recorded three or points in a game. Rama finished with a goal and two assists while Bossidy, Rhudy, and Wasik all struck once. Rice and Kenavan both finished with one assist for the Diplomats.

Anthony Dougherty paced the defense with five caused turnovers and Rhudy finished with three. Nick Zenobio, O'Connor, and Rogers caused two turnovers each and Read Ziegler along with O'Connor both came away with four ground balls.

Thomas Moore improved to 9-3 with the win after picking up nine saves, and Eric Ritchie was saddled with the loss after turning away 11 shots.

F&M held a 38-27 edge in shots, went 16-for-19 on clear attempts and forced 23 turnovers.

The Diplomats return to action next Saturday when F&M hosts Haverford at 1:00 p.m.