March 15, 2008

Box Score

WESTMINSTER, Md. - It was stingy defense combined with scoring early and often that led No. 1 Franklin & Marshall to 23-2 routing of 19th-ranked McDaniel in the Centennial Conference (CC) women's lacrosse opener for both teams on Saturday.

After jumping out to a 9-1 lead at halftime, the Diplomats (3-0, 1-0 CC) scored 14 more in the second while holding the Green Terror (4-1, 0-1 CC) to just one goal in each half for their first conference win and second over a nationally-ranked opponent.

Shannon Summers led the scoring frenzy with five goals and four assists for a game-high nine points. Jen Pritchard and Sarah Meisenberg recorded six points apiece. Pritchard netted four goals and dished out two assists and Meisenberg tallied the opposite (2g, 4a).

Netminder Lidia Sanza turned away five out of 10 McDaniel shots, while Sarah White made five saves in 30 minutes of work for the Green Terror.

Blake Hargest and Summers had a hand in two out of the first four F&M goals to start the game. The Diplomats opening run was interrupted with a Chelsea Ferruzzi goal at the 12:31 mark to make it 4-1.

F&M netted the next five goals, including Meredith Lussier's first collegiate goal with 5:54 left in the half.

The Diplomats 5-0 spurt to end the half turned into 13 unanswered goals that spilled over into the second half for a 17-1 commanding lead. Pritchard finished three goals, while Summers and Hargets added two each in the run.

F&M converted 5-of-7 free-position shots, getting one from Taryn Webb and Summers in the final six-goal burst over a seven-minute span to end the game.

Ashley Bevington finished with four goals, and Pritchard tallied five draw controls and four ground balls for the Diplomats. . F&M returns to action on Monday against Wesleyan in West Palm Beach, Florida over spring break. Game time is 7:30 p.m.