Lancaster, Pa.- A Caitlin Hoover goal off a penalty corner with two minutes remaining got the Diplomats back within a goal, but the Franklin & Marshall field hockey team ultimately fell 2-1 to visiting Swarthmore on Wednesday evening. 

Hoover's goal came off the fourth Annie Malatesta penalty corner of the fourth quarter. The initial shot was saved by the Garnet defense at the goal line before Hoover latched onto a loose ball and sent it over the goalkeeper and into the cage. The shot was one of seven for F&M in the fourth quarter, after only generating two shots in the first three corners. 

Swarthmore controlled the game up to the final minutes of the fourth quarter, outshooting the Diplomats 8-2 in the first three quarters and not conceding a shot in the first half. Their first goal came in the 43rd minute off a penalty corner. A shot from the edge of the arc was deflected up and over the Diplomats defense by a Garnet player from five yards out. 

They doubled their advantage off another penalty corner a minute into the fourth quarter. This time, a ball was crossed in from the edge of the arc and put past the goalkeeper to the left by a Swarthmore player in front of goal.

Following Hoover's goal and with one minute remaining, Hannah Fitzgerald tested the goalkeeper with a close-range shot that was blocked at the keepers left post for the team's final shot. Fitzgerald led the attack with three shots in the contest.

Meghan Dole totaled four saves in the game.

The Diplomats return to competition in one week's time as they travel to McDaniel on Wednesday, October 30th, at 6:00 pm.