Box Score Box Score
LANCASTER, Pa. – A flurry of second-half scoring and a stringent defensive effort highlighted No. 4 Franklin & Marshall's 3-0 shutout win over Gettysburg in Saturday's Centennial Conference (CC) Semifinal.
The Diplomats, who improved to 16-2 overall on the year, advanced into tomorrow's 1:00 p.m. Championship match on Tylus, while the Bullets fell to 11-7-1. F&M takes on the winner of No. 3 Johns Hopkins and Dickinson, who compete in Saturday's other CC Semifinal.
For those unable to make the trip to Lancaster, tomorrow's Championship can be viewed on GoDiplomats.com/Live.
F&M's defense was on top of its game in the opening half, packing in the 18-yard box and limited any scoring chances in the Gettysburg attacking third.
Neither team generated much offense through the majority of the frame until the Diplomats' attack came alive right before the halftime break. With one minute remaining, F&M had its first quality opportunity of the contest. A short back pass in the box from Connor Whitacre found the foot of Magnus Parente, whose attempt on goal careened off the crossbar and out of bounds.
Following the opening 45 minutes of play, the Bullets held a narrow 5-4 edge in shots while corners belonged to the Diplomats at 3-1.
F&M came out firing in the second. Four minutes into the half, the Diplomats once again had a golden opportunity with a Jack Brandt lofted pass into the box that was nearly headed in by Kane Feudtner. However, his attempt toward the top-middle of the net was turned back with a diving stop. Feudtner nearly struck again a minute later off a Shay Adamson cross, but the Gettysburg 'keeper was there again for the highlight-reel save.
The F&M offense finally broke through in the 68th. Alex Martinez kick-started the effort with a strong defensive play, wrestling the ball away from a Bullets' defender and sliding a short pass to his left. Shay Adamson charged the ball and launched a shot from 25 yards out that found a home in the upper-left corner.
Christopher Amoruso came through in the clutch with his first save of the contest in the 76th, diving to his right to turn back a close-range attempt and keep the Diplomats in front.
The Diplomats' offense opened up the floodgates from there with back-to-back goals that put the game out of reach for good.
A misplay by the Gettysburg goalkeeper followed by a failed clearance from a Bullets' defender was taken advantage of by Christian Avila Neres in the 79th. The sophomore defender stole the ball in the box, turned around and fired a wide-open shot for the 2-0 advantage.
Two minutes later, Steven Yakita lined up for a corner and lined a cross into the center of the 18-yard box that was headed in by senior captain Connor Whitacre for the dagger.
The overall shot count favored the Diplomats at 13-13, as well as corners at 8-3. Four F&M players led the effort with two shots each.
Amoruso (16-2) registered three saves to earn his sixth shutout of the year. Thomas Keene picked up the loss for the Bullets after allowing three goals and saving four shots.
