OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The No. 8 Franklin & Marshall men's lacrosse team picked up its first nationally-ranked win of the year with a thrilling 16-12 victory at No. 16 Stevenson under the lights of the Mustang Classic on Saturday night. Trailing 12-11 entering the final quarter, the Diplomats score five unanswered goals over the final 15 minutes to claim a huge bounce back victory.

Kai Kelly and Blake Target both scored twice during the fourth quarter rally. Kelly's final 15 minutes were part of a six-point night (4g, 2a) for the first-year. Will DeMuth also tallied during that fourth quarter run, finishing the night with a pair of goals and assists. The top point producer for F&M on the night was A.J. Rigsby, as he scored three goals and dished out four assists. James Moroney (four goals) was another instrumental part of keeping the attack rolling throughout the contest.

With the host Mustangs clinging to a narrow one goal lead, 10-9, at halftime, Franklin & Marshall allowed just two goals during the second half. That defensive effort was capped by the Diplomats not allowing a goal during the final 24:44 of regulation time. That 6-0 run, which extended back to the third quarter, to cap the game was one of two big runs on the night. F&M previously trailed 3-0 during the early minutes of the opening quarter before scoring five straight in a span of less than three minutes, including a pair of tallies from Rigsby and Moroney.

The Diplomats took control of all of the final statistics during that fourth quarter as they outshot the Mustangs by a 13-5 margin and picked up 12 of the 17 ground balls. James Moroney secured a career-high eight ground balls, with Blake Target adding five more GBs to keep the possession with the Diplomats' attacking unit.

Sage Garito made 13 saves, none bigger than his four during the fourth quarter shutdown of the Stevenson attack. Garito saved 80 percent of the shots he faced during the second half, denying numerous chances from the Mustangs to get back into the contest.

Franklin & Marshall wrapped up its non-conference schedule for the regular season with those huge win and currently sits at 7-1 on the year. The Diplomats will now focus in on Centennial Conference action which gets started in a week as the Diplomats welcome McDaniel to Shadek Stadium on March 26 for a noon face-off.