SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 5 Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team pulled off a thrilling 16-15 comeback victory in overtime at No. 4 Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. The Diplomats (10-2) scored the final eight goals of Sunday's game against the Sea Gulls (9-3) to secure the comeback in the top-five national showdown.
Gillian Brennan capped the comeback with her free-position goal just 59 seconds into the first overtime session. That came after F&M scored seven consecutive goals during the final 7:53 of regulation time to force the extra session. Brennan tallied the final three goals of the Diplomats' victory, with two of those coming in the final minute of regulation while those final three goals came in just 1:46 of total playing time.
Brennan was one of three F&M players who scored four goals against Salisbury, as Lane Lambeth and Lauren Pittman also accomplished that feat. Pittman additionally had a school record 14 draw controls which proved pivotal in helping the Diplomats to a commanding 24-11 advantage in that category. The free-position was also a fitting way to win the game after F&M scored four goals on its nine FPS attempts while limiting the Sea Gulls to no goals and just two attempts on free-position shots.
Despite needing the late comeback to win, it was the Diplomats who were up 5-2 early as they scored five straight during a stretch of 4:52 in the first quarter. Lydia Cassilly scored twice during that run while each of the other hat trick performances got their first goals of the afternoon in the opening period. Nevertheless, Salisbury scored two to close the period as the start of a 7-0 run which saw the hosts score 10 of the next 11 goals to claim a 12-7 advantage with 3:55 to play in the third quarter.
Salisbury's lead grew to as many seven goals on two occasions, the last of which came at the 12:44 mark of the fourth quarter before the Diplomats mounted their historic comeback. Lane Lambeth scored two of the first three goals during that furious rally down the stretch, with Claire Book finding the cage in between her teammate's scoring opportunities. Still trailing 15-11 with 4:17 to play, Pittman added two unassisted goals just 30 seconds apart to set the score at 15-13 with 3:07 left in regulation.
Brennan completely dominated those remaining minutes, scoring her two goals with 47 seconds and 18 seconds showing on the game clock. The overtime started with one last draw control from Pittman. The Sea Gulls were issued a yellow card just after a Diplomats' timeout and before F&M earned a foul in the critical scoring area which was finished by Brennan.
F&M held a 38-32 advantage in shots and got a combined eight saves from its goalies. Alyssa Moran made two of those stops during the first half before Sara DiGiovanni took over the remaining time, saving six of the 11 shots on goal that she faced to earn her first career victory.
Now riding their second five-game winning streak of the season, the Diplomats will wrap up non-conference play at home this coming Wednesday, April 10 against Rowan. Opening draw in that game is set for 4 p.m. inside Shadek Stadium.
