ALLENTOWN, Pa.- The No. 18 Franklin & Marshall field hockey team (11-3, 4-2 Centennial Conference) returned to winning form with a 4-2 win at Muhlenberg (5-9, 1-5 Centennial Conference) on Wednesday evening. 

The evening was highlighted by Ava Lofgren recording her first-career hat-trick, while she also provided one assist. Caitlin Hoover scored one goal while Hannah Fitzgerald and Keira Boensch each posted one assist. 

A chaotic opening quarter saw F&M earn a 3-1 lead through the first 15 minutes. Hoover scored the game's opening goal four minutes in when Boensch played a low cross in front of goal. Lofgren got a touch on the ball at the near post, directing a square ball to Hoover who slotted the ball past the keeper at the far post.

Lofgren scored her first goal of the night three minutes later, as Boensch played a dangerous ball into the circle and Lofgren executed a tip-in low and to the left from five yards away. 

The Mules reduced the gap just ninety seconds later with a tip-in goal of their own from a penalty corner, their lone shot of the quarter. 

Lofgren scored the Diplomats' third of the quarter with 40 seconds remaining from a penalty corner, as Fitzgerald controlled Hoover's pass into the circle and passed to Lofgren at the far-post. She then outdueled her defender to give the Diplomats a 3-1 advantage. 

The Diplomats outshot their opponents 6-1 in the first quarter.

The teams combined for just three shots in the second quarter, but the Mules were able to reduce the deficit to 3-2 in the 29th minute. Meghan Dole made a near-post save, but a Muhlenberg player was well-positioned on the rebound for a tap-in goal. 

The Diplomats controlled the pace in the second half, outshooting the hosts 15-4 including an 11-shot fourth quarter that culminated in Lofgren completing her hat-trick with six minutes to go. Hoover began the sequence after forcing a turnover in the Mules' defensive third. She played a through ball outside to Fitzgerald who played a perfect cross into Lofgren for a close-range shot. 

Across the hour, F&M outshot Muhlenberg 23-6 while generating eight penalty corners against four from the hosts.

The Diplomats are on the road against Washington College on Saturday, October 18, at noon.