LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's soccer team put itself on the doorstep of a Centennial Conference Tournament appearance with a 2-0 win versus Ursinus on Wednesday afternoon. In a matchup between two teams currently slated for the playoffs, F&M dominated the match with a 24-3 advantage in shots as Ellison Errington and Meg Balerna tallied early in each half.
With Wednesday's result, the Diplomats can officially punch their postseason ticket on Saturday with either a win or tie against Bryn Mawr during the regular season finale on Tylus Field.
The Diplomats took control of the match early as they put two shots on goal and earned a pair of corner kick attempts during the first six minutes of game action. Ursinus goalie Lexie Albaeck was strong on her backline as she made 11 saves on the day. However, F&M found its first crack in the Bears' defense during the ninth minute of play when Errington scored her third goal of the season on a cross from Ashly Inacio. Ursinus made 10 saves during the opening half, including one from the defense that kept Balerna's shot out of the goal midway through the first half.
It would take the Diplomats less than 10 minutes of time in the second half before Balerna collected a loose possession in the box off a corner kick that she was able to finish for her second goal of the season. That score followed one of 12 corner kicks that the Diplomats earned throughout the 90 minutes, maintaining a 12-1 advantage in that category.
With a two goal lead, that was more than enough for Lucy Fleming and and the defense that recorded their ninth shutout of the season while lowering the team's goals against average to 0.43 for the year. After being held without a shot during the first half, the Bears managed three against the stingy F&M defense during the second half. However, Fleming turned away the lone attempt on goal to add to her school record with the 28th shutout of her career. That clean sheet comes just one match after the reigning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week became the school's winningest goalie in program history.
Eleven different players recorded a shot for the relentless F&M offense. Emerson McDonald and Errington led the Diplomats with three each. As a team, F&M put 14 of its 23 shots on goal.
Franklin & Marshall will have its aforementioned playoff clinching opportunity this Saturday, October 31 when it welcomes Bryn Mawr to Tylus Field for the regular season finale. That contest is part of a Tylus Field triple header with field hockey and men's soccer. Women's soccer is set for a 3 p.m. start in what will also be Senior Day for the team as it looks to secure its sixth straight postseason appearance.
