XML Box Score Grantham, PA - Messiah College fell 14-10 to No. 4 Franklin and Marshall who used a 10-1 second-half run to stay ahead of the Falcons down the stretch. The Falcons scored the final two goals in the game but the gap was too much to overcome.
Â
The Diplomats' Emily Everdell scored four goals in the contest, while three players for the Falcons scored two goals each.
Sarah Dolan made seven saves for the Falcons and Kelsey Hoffman stopped nine shots for the Diplomats.
Â
Messiah opened up the contest with a goal by
Brooke Gamble on the first shot by either team 55 seconds from the starting draw control. The Falcons kept the pace up in the first half and started to pull away from the Diplomats after the game was tied at 3-3.
Â
Four unanswered goals by four different Falcons put them up 7-3 with 1:53 left on the clock in the first half, appearing to give Messiah the momentum. A free position goal by the Diplomats cut the advantage to 7-4 going into the half.
Â
Messiah was unable to gain that momentum back in the second half though, as the Diplomats' scoring run started at the 27:07 mark. Under six minutes later, Franklin & Marshall pulled out to an 11-8 lead over Messiah. During that time, the Diplomats won six draw controls.
Â
Three more goals by the Diplomats by 13:01 in the second half put them up 14-8 on the Falcons. In the game, Franklin & Marshall led on draw controls 18-8.
Â
Minutes later,
Lizzy Keeney scored her first and only goal of the game when she capitalized on a man-up situation and brought the Falcons back to within five.
Â
Keeney later assisted on a goal by
Claire Stikeleather to keep Messiah's comeback hopes alive. The Diplomats' defense did their job for the remaining five minutes though, and kept the Falcons from getting any closer. Hoffman saved two more shots by Messiah before the game ended.
Â
Emily Mumford led the defensive effort for the Falcons with four caused turnovers and seven ground balls.
Â
Messiah moves to 3-5 overall with the loss and Franklin and Marshall improves to 7-1 this season with the win. The Falcons will next travel to Lebanon Valley College on Saturday, Mar. 29, for the start of Commonwealth competition.
