WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Franklin & Marshall women's soccer team (1-0) started the 2025 season on the right foot, shutting out Catholic (0-1), 2-0, in Friday evening's non-conference matchup. Two first-year players found the back of the net as Emerson McDonald and Meg Balerna boosted the Diplomats ahead of the Cardinals in the scoring column.

Franklin & Marshall generated early pressure in the first half, firing three shots at the Cardinals net in the first 20 minutes of the contest. In the 31st minute, Colleen Ferrarese found McDonald for the Diplomats' first score of the season. 10 minutes later, Ferrarese recorded her second assist of the game as Balerna buried her first-career goal to cushion the F&M lead at 2-0.

Catholic turned up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Diplomats, 7-6, in the final 45 minutes of play. However, Lucy Fleming and the F&M defense denied the hosts on every scoring opportunity as Fleming earned her seventh-career shutout.

Despite outscoring the Cardinals, F&M finished even with Catholic in both shots (11) and shots on goal (four) in the contest. Lillian Williams led F&M in shots with four, while Balerna, McDonald, and Katherine Finnerty notched two shots each.

Franklin & Marshall hosts its home opener on Tuesday against Elizabethtown, starting at 7:00 p.m.