Game Notes

Last Time Out

The Diplomats will be looking to bounce back after following a 15-8 loss to #8 Washington and Lee during the team's season opener on Sunday, February 19. Franklin & Marshall will have recent experience to lean on though as the Diplomats also fell to Washington and Lee to start the 2022 season. Things seemed to turn out okay as the team ran off 12 consecutive victories following that opening defeat. During the 2023 season opener, Lydia Cassilly and Lane Lambeth both scored a pair of goals while Sydney Lowe and Lauren Pittman finished with a goal and assist each. Maddy Birch and Sarah Bowyer also rattled the back of the cage during the season opener. Reigning national defensive player of the year Mary Pat McKenna headlined the defensive efforts with four caused turnovers.

The Diplomats did finish the contest with a 24-22 advantage in total shots, but W&L maintained a very efficient attack throughout the afternoon and was bolstered by 11 saves from goalie Caroline Kranich. Helping that offensive efficiency was a perfect 6-for-6 afternoon from W&L on free-position shots. F&M held a 19-14 advantage in ground balls, while the Generals had the 14-12 edge in draw controls. The Diplomats have now had over a week to prepare for the 2023 home opener. The Diplomats are 37-10 all-time in their home openers.

Last Time vs. Messiah

During the 2022 season, the then-No. 6 Diplomats used an 8-3 run from the end of the second quarter through the start of the fourth period to take down No. 11 Messiah on the road by a 17-12 final. Although Messiah tied the game at three different occasions during the first half, F&M never trailed and used that huge run to solidify the nationally-ranked victory.

Lydia Cassilly scored a team-high five goals on the afternoon, with four of those tallies coming throughout the scoring surge to pace the attack. Marissa McGarrey added a hat trick during the win, while Madison Bray, Maddy Birch, and Kate McLam also registered multiple goals. Cassilly added one assist during her six-point outing, with Bray and Birch also dishing out multiple assists as they finished with five and four points, respectively.

Shots and turnovers were both fairly even after 60 minutes of play, with the Falcons holding a 25-19 advantage in ground balls. Nevertheless, 11 saves from Emily Kitchin helped swing the tide in favor of the Diplomats. Kitchin also scooped up a team-best five ground balls on the afternoon. Izzy Deubner and Erin Phillips both caused a pair of turnovers to help the defensive effort, with nine different players forcing at least one Messiah giveaway during the contest.

Last Time vs. York (Pa.)

Franklin & Marshall blitzed No. 16 York (Pa.) by scoring the first seven goals on during an eventual 15-9 road victory. The Diplomats were up 9-1 after 30 minutes of lock down defense. Five different players scored multiple goals throughout that night, led by Lydia Cassilly's hat trick. Maisie O'Shea, Gillian Brennan, Sydney Lowe, and Ally Marino also found the back of the cage multiple times. Marissa McGarrey added yet another multi-point outing with her one goal and pair of assists.

The Diplomats went up 5-0 during the opening period of play. It took F&M just a few minutes to find its rhythm on the attack before O'Shea struck first, tallying just over four minutes into the contest. After that initial goal, tallies from Maddy Birch, Lane Lambeth, Brennan, and Lowe all came in a span of under five minutes for the fast-paced attack. Franklin & Marshall finished the night with a 38-27 advantage in shots and was further aided by eight saves from Emily Kitchin. The Diplomats led 12-1 in shots after 15 minutes as a part of their early surge to start the contest. Eight different players caused a turnover for the F&M defense on Tuesday, highlighted by a pair of CTs from Madison Bray. Mary Pat McKenna led the defense with four ground balls.

Messiah Preview

Messiah is 2-0 on the year with an 11-10 overtime victory against Scranton to start the year and a 10-6 victory over F&M's Centennial Conference rival Gettysburg during the team's most recent outing. Strong defensive play has helped the Falcons out to the 2-0 record as they are allowing just 7.57 goals per 60 minutes and are stopping 51.5 percent of the opponent's shots on goal. Mackenzie O'Haver has started both games in goal, but Grace Hejeebu has seen action in both contests where she is stopping 55.6% of the shots she has faced. Another standout defensively has been Grace Gormley who has eight caused turnovers to go along with 18 draw controls. Messiah has won nearly 64% of the draw controls this season. Rachel Delate, Haley Lettinga, and Ehryn Groothoff are tied for team lead with four goals each. Eight different players have combined to find the back of the net this year.

York (Pa.) Team Preview

The Spartans will be seeing their first action of the 2023 season this week as their season opener is slated for the same date as F&M's matchup with Messiah. York (Pa.) begins the year with a home date against fellow Centennial Conference foe Washington College. The Spartans will certainly be a very familiar opponent around the Centennial Conference by the end of non-conference action as York (Pa.) will also play Gettysburg and Haverford during the month of March.

Kiersten Blanchard (attack) and Emmy Bryden (defense) are returning All-Americans for the Spartans who also saw goalie Bella Garabo earn all-region accolades last spring. Logan Ward (attack), Teresa Matthias (midfield), and Christina Vendelis (defense) each earned All-MAC honors in 2022 for the York (Pa.) squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.