CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Franklin & Marshall's men's lacrosse team kept its undefeated season going with a 12-5 win at Washington College on Saturday. The Diplomats (4-0, 3-0 CC) won three of the four quarters against the host Shoremen (2-3, 1-2 CC) during the Centennial Conference victory.

A.J. Rigsby had a huge game for the Diplomats as he scored on five of the nine shots he took and also registered two assists. Luke Keating (3 goals, 4 assists) and Blake Target (3 goals, 1 assist) also had hat tricks for F&M. Eric Mueller stopped nine of the 14 shots on goal he faced to pick up the win between the pipes.

Washington College scored the opening goal, but that would be the only time the Shoremen led all afternoon and that advantage would not last for long. Just 46 seconds after conceding the opening goal, Keating leveled the game for the Diplomats with an unassisted tally. Just over a minute later, Keating set up Rigsby to put F&M up 2-1. After that furious pace to the opening minutes, the defenses did not allow another goal until the 13:17 point of the second quarter when Andrew Towne found the back of the cage. Target added another goal with 3:27 remaining in the half before WAC showed off its own quick strike attack to knot the game at four before the break.

Franklin & Marshall's attack peppered the Washington College defense all afternoon and finished with a 50-30 advantage in total shots. That persistence began to pay off during the second half as the Diplomats outscored WAC 8-1 over the final 30 minutes. Rigsby finished with a hat track during the third quarter alone while assisting on a fourth goal that period for good measure. Keating and Target also had goals during the third period as F&M stretched its lead to 9-4.

Fittingly enough, Rigsby, Keating, and Target all had a goal during the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on the Diplomats' 12-5 victory. In addition to a strong attacking unit, Jack Beatty kept F&M with possession most of the afternoon as he won 11 of his 14 face-offs at the X while collecting a team-high six ground balls.

In addition to nine saves from Mueller, Noah Isaacson caused three turnovers from the Shoremen while collecting four ground balls. Towne also reclaimed the possession for his side five times in addition to his goal. The Diplomats finished the conference clash with a 33-22 edge in ground balls.

Currently first place in the Centennial Conference standings, the Diplomats have a busy week coming up as they first travel to Ursinus this Wednesday, April 21 for a 7 p.m. face-off under the lights during that rescheduled contest. F&M will also make the trip to Dickinson next Saturday, April 24.