LANCASTER, Pa. – The rain wasn't going to stop the No. 5 Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team on Wednesday afternoon as the Diplomats scored the first five goals, led 10-2 after the first quarter, and won by a 20-5 final against McDaniel inside Shadek Stadium. The Diplomats' lead reached double digits just over two minutes into the second quarter and F&M never looked back as it improved to 3-0 in Centennial Conference play.
Lane Lambeth, Lydia Cassilly, and Gillian Brennan each finished with hat tricks for the Diplomats, while Madison Bray was the leading point producer with two goals and four assists. Lauren Pittman was just behind her with one goal and four assists. In total, 13 different players scored for the Diplomats in the rainy conditions. Among those players came the first goals of the season for Megan Bizub, Myranda Beebe, and Amelia McCarthy.
Cassilly had her hat trick wrapped up just 4:02 into the contest to help her side out to a 5-0 lead, with both Bray and Brennan also lifting F&M to that early advantage midway through the first quarter. Beebe, Devyn Crone, Lambeth, Brennan, and Bizub started the Diplomats' next 5-0 run over a span of just 3:38 to close the quarter.
That run extended all the way to 9-0 as the Diplomats did not allow a second quarter goal while Kate McLam, Claire Book, and Adde Hollander each added their names to the scoresheet, with Brennan and Lambeth putting the finishing touches on their hat tricks as the Diplomats led 16-2 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Pittman's goal closed the third quarter scoring before Bray, Avery Briggs, and McCarthy added fourth quarter goals to the 20-5 victory which saw F&M outshoot the Green Terror by a 37-9 margin. The Diplomats were very efficient with their shot selection as they scored on 20 of their 29 shots on goal.
Franklin & Marshall also limited McDaniel's chances on the attack with a 16-12 advantage in draw controls and 22-12 edge in ground balls, while limiting the Green Terror to just 9-of-14 on their clearing attempts. Belle Dintino and Alyssa Moran were two of the 10 Diplomats who finished with a caused turnover, leading the team with three each. Dintino additionally led F&M with four ground balls, while Moran picked up the win in goal during the first half before Sara DiGiovanni and Mary Scally handled the action in the crease during the second half.
Women's lacrosse continues its busy week with a home game Saturday against Ursinus that is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start. The Diplomats wrap up their three-game week at No. 4 Salisbury Sunday with a 1 p.m. showdown versus the Sea Gulls.
