LANCASTER, Pa. – After Saturday's playoff-clinching 1-0 win against Bryn Mawr, the Franklin & Marshall women's soccer team (8-4-3, 5-3-2 Centennial Conference) is back in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the sixth-consecutive season. They are the tournament's fifth seed and will travel to face fourth-seeded McDaniel (9-3-5, 5-2-3 Centennial Conference) on Tuesday, November 3, at 2 p.m.

Ticket Information

Hudl returns as the ticketing provider for Centennial Conference postseason action in the 2026-27 academic year. Hudl will give event attendees the ability to purchase tickets online for each round of the Centennial postseason. Centennial fans will be able to find all scheduled postseason events on the Centennial ticketing homepage and quickly purchase tickets to receive via email. Fans will then use their smartphone to gain access at championship events through a simple and secure ticket validation process.  Below are the ticket prices for each round of the postseason. Prices listed include a $1 service fee:

• Adults - $11
• Students (Age 6 through High School) - $6
• Senior Citizens - $6
• College Students, Faculty & Staff of Centennial Schools - FREE
• Children 5 and Under – FREE

The Field

FIRST ROUND: Tuesday, Nov. 3 | at #3 & #4 seeds
#6 Dickinson at #3 Ursinus, 6 p.m. 
#5 Haverford at #4 Franklin & Marshall, 7 p.m. 

SEMIFINALS: Thursday, Nov. 5 | at #1 & #2 seeds
Higher seeded first round winner at #2 Swarthmore, 7 p.m. 
Lower seeded first round winner at #1 Johns Hopkins, 6 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, Nov. 7 | at highest remaining seed
Semifinal winners, location & time TBD

The Season So Far

F&M's conference-leading defense has been the key to securing the team's sixth postseason appearance under John Sumoski. The Diplomats' 0.40 goals against average puts F&M among the top 25 teams in Division III. 

The team recorded a 3-1-1 record in non-conference play with wins over Eastern (2-0), Arcadia (1-0), and St. Mary's (1-0), a 1-1 draw hosting Elizabethtown to open the season, and a 1-0 loss to York. 

F&M totaled four goals across two wins to open Centennial Conference play, winning 3-0 at Muhlenberg and 1-0 against Washington College. A 1-0 loss against No. 17 Swarthmore brought an end to 488 minutes without conceding a goal while beginning a scoreless drought that would span more than five matches. The team did earn a pair of 0-0 draws at Dickinson and (RV) McDaniel following the loss to the Garnet before falling 2-0 against Gettysburg and 1-0 at No. 20 Johns Hopkins. With a playoff berth still in sight, F&M closed out the season by taking all nine available points in their final three matches, winning 2-0 at Haverford, 2-0 hosting Ursinus, and 1-0 against BrynMawr on Senior Day. The Diplomats will enter Tuesday's match on a 303-minute run of not conceding a goal. 

Players to Watch

Goalkeeper Lucy Fleming leads the Centennial Conference with nine shutouts in her senior season, while she ranks fourth in save percentage (.860).

The F&M back four in front of Fleming has remained virtually unchanged in the regular season, playing a key role in what has been the conference's best defense. Grace Craig leads outfield players in minutes (1310), missing just 15 while contributing one assist. Her and Colleen Ferrarese have started each game at fullback, while Meghan Ross has started every match as the right-sided centerback. Alex Jones has started 14 games to her left side.

Ashley Inacio leads the Diplomats' attack with ten points from four goals and two assists in her junior season. She recorded a brace in F&M's 3-0 win at Muhlenberg in September, while she has been involved in the game-winning goal (2 G, 1 A) in the last three matches that the Diplomats have played entering Tuesday. Ellison Errington has recorded three goals and one assist in 2026, while Emerson McDonald has two game-winning goals and two assists. Katherine Finnery totaled one goal and two assists so far this season.

Meg Balerna and Amanda Nemeth have shared most of the responsibility in central midfield this year, as Balerna has contributed two goals and Nemeth has two assists.

Postseason Success

The Diplomats hold a 7-5 record in the Centennial Conference Tournament under head coach John Sumoski with three Centennial Conference Tournament Championship appearances in the last five seasons. The Diplomats have a 4-3-1 record (The one tie ended as a 4-3 L in PK's at McDaniel in the 2022 first round) when playing away matches in the Centennial Conference Tournament that includes a 2-1 win at McDaniel in the 2024 semifinal round. 

Lucy Fleming has started in goal for all eight Centennial Conference Tournament matches in the past four seasons, posting a .800 save percentage with 36 saves and a 5-3 record, playing a key role in two tournament championship appearances and 2023's NCAA Tournament berth.

Three of F&M's regular starters in defense this season have earned a start in each match in the past two postseasons including Grace Craig and Meghan Ross, while Colleen Ferrarese has played every available minute at fullback through the 2023 postseason. Ferrarese also has one assist in postseason play, helping Emerson McDonald to her first conference tournament game in last year's 2-1 win in the first round over Gettysburg. 

McDaniel Team Preview

After missing the Centennial Conference Tournament one season ago, the Green Terror (9-3-5, 5-2-3 Centennial Conference) are back in the postseason for the 11th time in the past 13 seasons. They enter Tuesday after posting a 3-1-3 October record that included strong performances such as a 5-0 win over Haverford and a 1-1 draw to No. 17 Swarthmore, although their lone loss in that span saw Dickinson claim a 4-1 win.

Sophomore midfielder Alaina Miller and first-year Hariette Ngwatung have each totaled 18 points, tying them for second in the Centennial Conference while accounting for roughly half of the Green Terror's goal-scoring contributions in 2026. Both players are tied for second in the conference with seven goals, while both players have also tallied four assists. Ngwatung is tied for the conference lead with four game-winning goals. Senior Carly Brock has executed in clutch scenarios, scoring three game-winning goals from four total goals with four assists. Sophomore Sierra Ruehl had totaled seven shutouts while posting a .788 save percentage, 3.06 saves per game, and a 0.92 goals against average. The Green Terror ranks fourth in scoring average (1.53) and are fifth in goals against average (0.82).

Series History vs. McDaniel

F&M holds a 20-13-8 advantage historically against the Green Terror, while the Diplomats hold a 1-3-6 record under head coach John Sumoski. The side secured a 2-1 away win in the 2024 Centennial Conference Tournament Semifinal, while McDaniel won a pair of playoff contests in a shootout prior to that, including 2021's tournament championship match. The sides battled to a scoreless draw at McDaniel in the 2026 regular season.