Box Score SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Kevin Mollihan scored a career-high nine goals to lead No. 11 Franklin & Marshall to a 20-8 victory over Susquehanna in men's lacrosse action Wednesday afternoon. The Diplomats improved to 3-0 while the River Hawks fell to 1-3.
Susquehanna took an early 2-1 lead midway through the first before the Diplomats tallied three straight and took the lead for good. The River Hawks struck with four minutes left in the first to make it 4-3 at the end of the quarter.
Two straight goals by F&M in first two minutes of the second made it 6-3 and after a score from SU, the Diplomats put another pair on the board to make it 8-4. F&M closed out the quarter with a 3-1 run and took an 11-5 lead into the break.
F&M started out the third with three unanswered for a 14-5 lead, but the River Hawks answered with two of their own for a 14-7 score. Mollihan buried a pass from Luke Keating a 2:20 to make it 11-5 heading into the final frame.
The Diplomats opened the fourth the same way they did the third with a three-goal run and took an 18-7 advantage at 8:43. After a goal from the River Hawks midway through the quarter, F&M closed out the game with the final two points of the contest.
Mollihan's nine goals were the second most in program history in one game and Sean Rogers ended with two scores and four helpers. Luke Keating tallied four goals with two assists, George Briggs had a score with two dimes while Chris Andrews, Tucker McBride, John Sommi and A.J. Rigsby all scored a goal. Drew DeBacco, Wyatt Richins, Kyle Scheuerle and Ellis Llewellyn each handed out an assist.
Tommy O'Connor paced the defense with three caused turnovers and two ground balls, and Andrew Rose ended with five ground balls after going 11-for-23 from the X.
Scott Hatch improved to 3-0 with 12 stops in the cage while Dylan Abplanalp took the loss with 10 saves.
F&M outshot the River Hawks 51-40, held a slight 40-39 edge in ground balls and went 26-for-27 on clear attempts.
The Diplomats return to action on Saturday when F&M hosts W&L at 12:00 p.m.
