Box Score NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Franklin & Marshall's No. 15-ranked men's lacrosse team picked up a 21-16 win over Messiah in a high-scoring, non-conference contest played at Iona Prep. in New York on Saturday afternoon.
The Diplomats improved to 4-1 with the team's fourth consecutive win, while the Falcons dropped to 2-3.
Saturday's game was tight early on as Kevin Mollihan notched his team-leading 18th marker of the season to put the first goal on the scoreboard. Messiah quickly answered to even the score at 1-1 and the Diplomats eventually concluded the first quarter with a two-goal advantage.
F&M extended its lead to 10-5 with 6:20 remaining in the opening half before Mollihan notched his fourth of the game to send the Diplomats into the break with a 14-7 edge.
A pair of rapid-fire, back-to-back goals from Ellis Llewellyn and A.J. Rigsby in the third kept F&M out in front at 16-10 as the six-score advantage held going into the fourth at 17-11 in favor of the Diplomats.
Messiah fought to keep within striking distance, but Jarrett Donaghy found Stephen DeSimone with three minutes left in the game to put F&M in front by a comfortable seven-goal margin.
Mollihan led F&M with five scores and one assist while fellow attackers Luke Keating and Blake Target followed with three scores each. Goalkeeper Scott Hatch earned the win in net with a seven-save effort.
The Diplomats are set to return to action on Friday, March 15th, traveling to Stevenson University to take on No. 5 Amherst at 4:00 p.m. Video and live stats for that contest will be made available here.
