LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's soccer team, a squad receiving votes in the latest national polls, posted a strong 3-0 shutout victory over visiting Ursinus on Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats (7-1-3, 4-1-1 CC) scored once in the first half and twice during the final 45 minutes, while racking up 24-2 advantage in shots.
Zoe Warne started the scoring during the eighth minute of play for her second goal of the season. Following her assist on the first goal, Bri Skidmore tallied her team-leading seventh goal of the season just under three minutes into the second half. Eileen Harvey then joined the two previous goal scorers and made it six Diplomats who have scored multiple goals so far this season with her second of the season.
The Diplomats put the pressure on early with a shot and earned corner kick during the first two and half minutes of the match. Their efforts were finally rewarded when Warne scored just 7:58 into the contest for what ended up being the game-winning goal. That game-winning tally was the first of the sophomore's career.
Franklin & Marshall held an 11-1 advantage in shots after 45 minutes of action, but seven saves from Muhlenberg helped to keep the Mules' deficit at just one heading into the second half. That 1-0 lead would increase just under three minutes into the second half thanks to Skidmore. Sophie Koziol was credited with the assist on the second goal. The Diplomats added one final insurance tally during the final five minutes from Harvey.
Muhlenberg's defense felt the pressure all day as the Diplomats put 14 of their 24 shots on goal. Alison Francis tallied a team-high eight shots during the F&M victory as 10 players from the home side registered a shot. Lucille Flemming played the first 85-plus minutes in goal and made one save before Claire Masterson closed on the remaining time during the combined shutout. The Diplomats' shutout was their seventh clean sheet in 11 matches to date.
Women's soccer continues Centennial Conference play with a pair of matches this week. The Diplomats will travel to Dickinson for a 6:30 match on Wednesday before returning to Tylus Field next Saturday for another 3 p.m. home match against nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins.
