OWINGS MILLS, Md. – A 7-1 second quarter in favor of No. 13 York (Pa.) proved too much for the Franklin & Marshall men's lacrosse team to overcome in its opening game of the 2023 Mustang Classic. The Diplomats (4-2) and Spartans (2-3) played to an even 9-9 score over the other 45 minutes, with York having a goal advantage in the first and F&M holding a 4-3 edge in scoring during the third quarter.

Christian Sullivan led the Diplomat attack with a hat trick and an assist, while Will Mulligan, Will Mollihan, and Tommy Garofalo each scored two goals. Mulligan and Garofalo additionally dished out assists to finish the contest with three points. York (Pa.) got seven goals from Will Harnick and finished with a 54-24 edge in shots. However, 13 saves from Sage Garito and two more from Eric Mueller kept F&M competitive throughout the afternoon.

The Diplomats tied the game at one with an unassisted goal from Mulligan and were down by just one early in the second period when Liam Timmins added his name to the score sheet. Nevertheless, York (Pa.) rolled off six straight to close the second quarter and opened the scoring in the third to claim a 10-2 advantage.

Franklin & Marshall had two scoring spurts of its own during the second half as the Diplomats scored four straight when they faced their largest deficit of the day. Sullivan tallied twice during that 4-0 third quarter run. That surge closed the gap to 10-6 before the Spartans added two goals near the end of that quarter.

Mollihan scored two of F&M's three goals to start the fourth quarter, bringing the York (Pa.) lead down to just three goals, 12-9, with over seven minutes remaining. The Diplomats owned a 10-8 advantage in shots during that fourth quarter, but it was the Spartans who went on to score four of the final five goals in Friday's eventual 16-10 final.

Men's lacrosse continues the 2023 Mustang Classic with No. 8 Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. That contest will be the Diplomats' final non-conference matchup before they begin Centennial Conference play at home on Saturday, March 25 against Haveford.