NEW LONDON, Conn. – The No. 19 Franklin & Marshall men's soccer team (10-2-7) used a penalty kick in the 49th minute to defeat Western Connecticut State (15-4-3), 1-0, Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The win marked the Diplomats' sixth-consecutive year with a victory in the first round of the big dance.

After a scoreless first half of play, F&M raised the offensive pressure to start the final period of regulation. In the 49th minute, Koa Kaliebe sent a pass into the box for Adam Green. Before Green could get off a shot, he was fouled on a hard tackle that set up a penalty kick. Connor Anderko took the kick and buried his shot into the bottom-left corner of the cage to give Franklin & Marshall a 1-0 lead. The score was Anderko's third goal of the season and second game-winning goal of the year.

Both teams had limited chances to score early in the game as Nic Petruso tallied F&M's only shot on net in the first half during the 20th minute of play. However, his shot was saved by WestConn's goalkeeper Zachary Benson.

The Diplomats best chance of scoring an insurance goal came in the 80th minute as Kaliebe sent a shot attempt that was batted away by Benson. The rebound kicked out to Horwitz, who sent another shot at the Wolves' net. However, Benson was positioned perfectly to corral the second shot.  

Franklin & Marshall outshot WestConn, 12-9, in the contest with Green and Kaliebe recording two shots each. Nolan Booth made just three saves in the win to earn his fifth clean sheet of the season.

No. 19 Franklin & Marshall advances to set up a rematch of the second round of the last year's NCAA Tournament as the Diplomats play Connecticut College on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.