ALLENTOWN, Pa. - No. 16 Franklin & Marshall got its season off on the right foot, as the visiting Diplomats scored four of the final five goals to push past Muhlenberg 10-8 in men's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Muhls dropped to 0-1.

F&M struck first behind a Christian Sullivan goal at the 12:48 mark in the first quarter, but Muhlenberg answered back with four of the next five goals. An A.J. Rigsby scorcher with 3:19 left in the first was sandwiched between two pairs of scores for the Mules.

Blake Target snapped the Mules' dominant stretch, tallying his first of the season with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. His goal closed the F&M gap to just one at the half, entering the break down 4-3.

A rapid succession of goals by Rigsby, Christian Sullivan, and Will Mollihan early in the third saw F&M snatch the lead from Muhlenberg and put the Diplomats up 6-4 with 11:35 left in the third quarter. Muhlenberg answered with three of their own to retake a 7-6 lead entering the fourth.

F&M took over in the fourth quarter, netting four of the final five strikes of the game. Rigsby's goal while on the man advantage tied things at 7-7 with 9:32 to play. Target's second of the game gave the Diplomats the edge less than a minute later.

Muhlenberg struck one last time with 7:03 remaining to knot the score at 8-8, but F&M held strong. Andrew Towne's first of the season ended as the game winner with 5:50 remaining, and Sullivan completed his hat trick on a back-breaking strike with 1:53 left to play.

A.J. Rigsby and Christian Sullivan both finished with three goals, Blake Target ended with two, while Will Mollihan and Andrew Towne tallied one apiece.

Luke Keating handed out seven assists, an effort that lands him fourth on the Diplomats all-time list for assists in a game. The effort was the most for F&M since Keating doled out six helpers against Washington and Lee last season.

Eric Mueller improved to 1-0 on the season, collecting 12 saves in the winning effort. Jack Beatty finished 8-for-16 from the X and picked up two ground balls, while Erich Della Volpe led the team with five ground balls.

F&M and Muhlenberg will meet again in a conference matchup at Shadek Stadium on Saturday, April 3rd. The Diplomats return to action next week, travelling to Collegeville, Pa. to battle Ursinus with a 12 p.m. start. That contest will mark the official start of Centennial Conference play for the Diplomats.