WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Franklin & Marshall men's lacrosse team made it nine straight victories and a perfect 4-0 start to Centennial Conference play with a 7-3 victory over McDaniel on Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats (10-2, 4-0 CC) are now riding their fifth-longest winning streak in program history. The last time F&M won at least nine in a row was a stretch of 11 consecutive victories spanning the 2020 through 2021 seasons.

Reigning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week Teddy Scarborough was once again fantastic in the crease as he stopped 10 of the 13 shots on goal that he faced in the defensive battle to finish with a nearly 77 percent save percentage. Six different Diplomats scored in the balanced attack, with Alex Pilling being the only F&M player who tallied twice in the victory. Those goals were also the first of the rookie's collegiate career. Preston Blue had a two-point outing with an assist in addition to his goal while Kai Kelly added two helpers.

Despite the defensive battle that ensued, the game got off to a quick start as Dillon Mannix scored just 1:13 into regulation time. However, that would be the only scoring until the 8:26 mark of the second quarter when the Green Terror knotted the score at one. Nevertheless, that second quarter proved to be the most fruitful of the day for the Diplomats as Pilling scored his first career goal with 6:59 to play before the half.

The Diplomats would never relinquish the lead again Ryan Roberts, Blue, and Pilling helped make it a 4-0 run for the Diplomats in a span of just over four minutes. F&M made it five consecutive goals when Mason Montrella found the back of the cage just 1:03 into the second half, while Charlie Bernicker added the Diplomats' final goal of the afternoon with 6:16 to play in the third quarter.

Scarborough made five saves during both the first and second halves, allowing just one goal during each of the final three quarters. As a team, F&M finished with a 39-27 advantage in total shots, outpacing the Green Terror 26-11 during the first half when it jumped out to the lead. F&M also won eight of the 14 face-offs, with Connor Traynor going 7-for-13 at the X. Pierce Archer led the way for the Diplomats with five ground balls as he was also one of five F&M players to cause a turnover versus McDaniel.

Men's lacrosse will return home next Saturday for a 12 p.m. noon face-off against Muhlenberg inside Shadek Stadium.