LANCASTER, Pa. – The No. 18 Franklin & Marshall field hockey team (0-3) was defeated in its first home game of the season Saturday morning against No. 7 Christopher Newport (2-0), 3-0, in non-conference action. The Diplomats totaled nine shot attempts in the first half, but were held without a shot in the final 30 minutes of play.

With the game scoreless in the closing minutes of the first quarter, F&M transitioned from defense to offense in hopes of striking first in the contest. Jessica Miller fired a shot that was saved by CNU goalkeeper Lily Kerr. The rebound kicked out to Caitlin Hoover as the sophomore sent her shot attempt just wide of the left post. Keira Boensch had the final shot of the quarter as a Captain defender blocked her attempt and cleared the ball away from danger.

F&M continued to attack the CNU net to start the second quarter as Miller was fed a pass in front of the cage, but her attempt just missed wide-left to keep the game scoreless. However, the tie didn't last much longer as the Captains flipped the field and scored in transition to jump ahead, 1-0. Christopher Newport found the back of the net again six minutes later to add insurance with 1:34 remaining in the first half.

The Diplomats had opportunities to cut the deficit in half before the end of the quarter as Miller sent two consecutive shots at the CNU net. However, both shots were saved by Kerr to deny F&M a chance of getting into the scoring column.

Christopher Newport outshot F&M, 24-9, in the contest. Miller tallied five total shots and four shots on goal in the game. In net, Meghan Dole reached double-digit saves with 11 in the effort.

Franklin & Marshall returns to Tylus Field to host Elizabethtown on Wednesday, starting at 5:00 p.m.