YORK, Pa. -- Meg O'Callahan's 67th minute goal was the difference maker, as Franklin & Marshall opened its 2021 campaign with a 1-0 victory over York (Pa.) on Thursday evening. With the win, the Diplomats improved to 1-0, while the Spartans dropped to 0-1.

F&M had been dominating large portions of the game, but unable to convert until just over 23 minutes remaining. The ninth corner kick of the match by O'Callahan found the head of Alison Francis, who nodded it off the crossbar. The ball clanged back into the box, leading to a scramble that left Dahlia Pepe on the ground. O'Callahan calmly slotted the PK home for her eighth career goal and first of the season.

The Diplomats wasted little time establishing themselves firmly on the offensive side of the field, notching seven corner kicks in the first 28 minutes of gameplay and outshooting the Spartans 7-1 over that same time frame. York found a bit more rhythm after that stretch, taking three straight shots during a 21 second blitz that F&M withstood to keep the game knotted at 0-0.

O'Callahan went on a tear after the break, ripping off four shots in a ten minute span that required the York keeper to make three of her seven saves on the evening. After the PK goal, the Diplomats locked all windows and doors, running out the clock and allowing only one shot over the final stretch.

Sara Ghorashi (1-0) needed to make three saves in the shutout victory, her fourth coast to coast shutout of her career.

Alison Francis and Meg O'Callahan each led F&M with six shots. Sierra Brophy and Bri Skidmore each had a pair, while Anna Ellwood and Lainie Anderson had one apiece.

The Diplomats dominated on the stat sheet, outshooting the Spartans 18-7 and leading in corners 13-2.

F&M gets back in action on Sunday afternoon as it faces Penn State-Berks at home on Tylus Field beginning at 1 p.m.