CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 3 Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team scored five goals in the second quarter and five more in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated with an 11-8 win against Shenandoah on Wednesday afternoon. Playing under beautiful Florida skies, the Diplomats (6-0) found themselves facing an early 4-0 deficit before taking control of the game during the final 45 minutes.
Devyn Crone led the F&M attack with three goals, while Lydia Cassilly and Lauren Pittman each scored twice. Svia Russman-Araya scored her first career goal during the win, with Annie Marshall, Alexandra Proefrock, and Claire Book also finding the back of the cage.
After doubling up the Diplomats in shots during the first period, the Hornets scored the first four goals and were up 4-1 after 15 minutes. Nevertheless, Crone's goal with just 39 seconds remaining in the opening quarter appeared to give F&M some momentum as it scored the next four goals to tie the game at four-all. Russman-Araya and Book each scored during that tying rally, with Crone adding her second of the contest.
The game would be tied on four more occasions, with the final deadlock coming at eight-all midway through the fourth quarter. Pittman scored the game-tying goal with 8:24 to play in regulation. The Diplomats left no further doubts in that remaining time as Cassilly scored twice during the final four minutes of the game before Marshall added an advantage goal with just 20 seconds to play in regulation.
Franklin & Marshall racked up a 26-11 advantage in shots during the final 45 minutes to own a 31-21 edge in that stat for the game. Reigning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week Sara DiGiovanni made 11 saves to secure the win. F&M also owned a 22-15 advantage in ground balls, with Lane Lambeth and Pittman each collecting four on the day. Pittman additionally led her side with three draw controls on top of being a perfect 2-for-2 in free-position attempts.
Women's lacrosse will now return north in the coming days as the team gets ready for its next home game against No. 5 William Smith. That national showdown between two teams who played in the Final Four a season ago is set for Monday, March 17 at 4:30 p.m.
