SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall field hockey team scored three times during the third quarter to turn in a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory at Susquehanna on Thursday night. The win gives the Diplomats 12 consecutive season-opening victories dating back to the 2010 season – the longest such stretch in school history.

The Diplomats (1-0) more than doubled up the River Hawks in shots, 20-9, and were finally rewarded for those efforts in the third period as Carolina Riley tied the game, Faith DiMantova put the team in front, and Molly Paulsen added some insurance, all within an 11 minute span. Jessica Miller opened the scoring for the Diplomats during the first quarter.

F&M found itself in an early hold when the River Hawks converted a penalty corner just 1:34 into regulation time. Nevertheless, the Diplomats answered with Miller scoring on F&M's first shot attempt of the night to level the rapid scoring early at the 5:38 mark. Susquehanna earned eight penalty corners on the night and scored twice on those chances as a tally just over two minutes into the second quarter once again put the hosts in front.

The visiting Diplomats were holding a 14-5 advantage in shots after the first 30 minutes, but still found themselves down a goal at the break. That changed in the third quarter as F&M was a very efficient 3-for-4 in converting its shots into goals during those 15 minutes. The first came just two minutes into the second half when the visitors converted their own penalty corning as Sophie Carroll fed Riley for her first goal of the season. Riley assisted on the game-winning goal as DiMantova tallied the first goal of her career during the 38th minute. Paulsen capped the high-scoring third quarter with her first career goal coming off the pass from Maddie Bickel. That 4-2 score would hold for the final 17-plus minutes.

In addition to the shots advantage, F&M earned 18 penalty corners in comparison to just eight for the River Hawks. Eleven saves for Susquehanna's goalie kept the match tight for much of regulation. The Diplomats alternated goalies in each half with Sydney Kuehn getting the start and playing the entire first half before Jorja Pastore picked up the win with two saves during the final 30 minutes of match action. Annie Malatesta also came up with a defensive save to help F&M's efforts early in the second period.

With the first win of the season under its belts, Franklin & Marshall will look towards its home opener this coming Sunday when No. 16 Christopher Newport visits Tylus Field. That contest is slated to get underway at 11 a.m.