Game Notes

Last Time Out

Franklin & Marshall is headed back to Salem, Virginia for the second time in as many seasons after a thrilling 11-10 overtime victory against Tufts in the Elite 8 after the Diplomats hosted a national quarterfinal for the first time since the 2015 season. The Diplomats are making their second consecutive trip to the Final Four since the 2015-16 seasons and their 13th appearance all-time in the national semifinals.

To make it back to the Final Four, the Diplomats had to erase a 9-3 second half deficit versus Tufts. Senior Gillian Brennan was not going to be denied in her final home game as she scored six goals and had one assist. Lane Lambeth also scored twice in the win to make F&M just the second team in Division III history with four different 60-plus goal scorers. Fellow 60 goal scorers Lydia Cassilly and Lauren Pittman also scored throughout the victory, with Pittman netting the game-winning goal during the second half of the first overtime. Devyn Crone scored the game-tying goal with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation to force the extra time.

In the overtime, the Jumbos won the opening draw, but Megan Bizub was able to come up with a huge caused turnover to take away the possession. Tufts answered with a big defensive stop of its own as Jumbos' goalie Pascal de Buren made one of her 13 saves on a free possession attempt to close the opening three minutes of overtime. Both teams finished the game with 13 draw controls and Pittman won her eighth of the afternoon to start the second half of the first overtime. Just 33 seconds later she scored scored the game-winning goal 33 seconds into the newest period which ultimately sent the Diplomats back to Salem, Virginia.

Prior to the matchup against Tufts, F&M won its Sweet 16 matchup against Roanoke by a 14-11 final after a 3-0 fourth quarter in favor of the host Diplomats. The Diplomats and No. 12 Maroons were tied on four occasions during that contest, including eight-all and 11-all deadlocks following the second and third quarters. Nevertheless, Franklin & Marshall stepped up defensively with a 3-0 fourth quarter to earn its advancement in the national tournament.

Gillian Brennan led all F&M goal scorers with four goals on the afternoon while she also contributed one assist. Lydia Cassilly finished with a team-high six points as she contributed two goals and four assists to the winning effort, while Madison Bray, Lauren Pittman, and Claire Book gave the Diplomats five different multi-goal scorers.

The contest was a back-and-forth battle throughout much of the regulation time, with F&M holding a share of its largest lead at the final buzzer. The Diplomats matched that three-goal advantage early on by scoring five of the game's first seven goals. The first quarter featured a combined 13 goals between the two teams. The Diplomats dominated the ground ball battle with a 16-7 edge, while Roanoke held the edge in draw controls by a 16-12 margin. However, the draw control momentum leaned in F&M's favor during the final 30 minutes as it won eight of the last 13 after the Maroons won 13 of 17 restarts during the first half. Sarah Bowyer played a huge part in that turnaround as she won five draw controls, while Pittman added three more draw victories in the circle. Belle Dintino was instrumental in the Diplomats' defensive efforts as she caused four turnovers during the victory, while both goalies finished the contest with eight saves.

Last Time vs. Middlebury

Franklin & Marshall will be looking to avenge one of its three regular season defeats when they line up against the No. 1 Panthers who claimed an 18-9 victory during the regular season. The Diplomats have already avenged one of their other regular season defeats when they won the Centennial Conference Championship against Gettysburg earlier this month. 

Then ranked No. 5 in the country, F&M tested itself against No. 1 Middlebury in late March at the USA Lacrosse Headquarters.  Middlebury outscored the Diplomats by a 10-2 margin during the middle two quarters to pull away while F&M won the fourth by a 4-3 margin after a highly competitive opening quarter. Gillian Brennan recorded a hat trick against the defending national champions, as she went 3-for-3 on free-position shots to lead a perfect 5-for-5 effort as a team. Lane Lambeth and Lauren Pittman both scored twice, with Lydia Cassilly and Claire Book tallying single goals in the national showdown.

Franklin & Marshall had the game tied at three-all late in the first quarter when Brennan and Pittman scored back-to-back goals at the 4:27 and 1:51 marks of the opening period. Nevertheless, the Panthers began their assertive play throughout the middle of the game late in first quarter with a 4-0 run that extended into the second. Lambeth broke that stretch at the 10:53 mark of the second quarter, but Middlebury scored the next eight before Pittman snapped that run in the closing minutes of the third.

Alyssa Moran made 12 saves to try and slow down the Panthers' attack, but the defending national champions pressured the F&M defense throughout Tuesday's game and finished with a 37-20 advantage in shots. Middlebury additionally created a number of extra possessions on the attack with a 20-10 advantage in draw controls.

Middlebury Preview

Middlebury is making its 28th appearance in the national tournament and has advanced to the semifinal round for the 23rd time, including every year that it has competed since 2015. The Panthers are looking to reach the championship contest for the 13th time and are searching for their third-consecutive national title and 10th overall. The program has won 49-straight contests, as well as 19-consecutive victories in NCAA Tournament action. 

During the NCAA Elite 8, Hope Shue scored twice to eclipse the 100-point mark this season (75G, 25A). The Panther's point and goal totals pace the NESCAC, while she is tied for first on the team with 25 helpers and third in draw controls (57). This season, Shue has rewritten the Middlebury record books, ranking third in career goals (214) and points (266), while her single-season point total is also third.

Also contributing on attack this season has been Susan Rowley and Maggie Coughlin. Rowley is second on the team in both points (91) and goals (73). The captain has recorded a hat trick or better in 10 of her last 11 contests, and has found the back of the net 11 times over the last two games. Coughlin is fourth on the team in points (48) and has provided a balanced offensive output, registering 23 goals and 25 assists during the spring. In NCAA Tournament play this season, Coughlin has tallied six points (4G, 2A).

Caroline Adams leads the team in draw controls, winning 121 this season. Her total tops the NESCAC and is third in the program record books, while her career mark (205) is fourth all-time for Middlebury. Offensively, Adams is third on the squad in points with 49 (30G, 19A). Lucy Bishop has been strong in midfield, winning 60 draws during her rookie campaign, which ranks second on the team. During Middlebury's third round win over Colorado College, Bishop grabbed a career-high 11 draw controls, which is tied for fifth-most in a single contest. In goal, Elizabeth Savage and Gina Driscoll have each seen time this year. Savage has made 15 appearances and owns a 5.33 goals against average (GAA) and a .500 save percentage. Across 18 games, Driscoll has stopped 73 shots and secured a team-high 13 wins.   

F&M Individual & Team Rankings in NCAA National Rankings

Team Rankings (top 50)

• 6. Winning percentage (.864)

• 7. Shots per game (35.86)

• 9. Fewest turnovers per game (13.09)

• 10. Scoring offense (16.55)

• 12. Shots on goal per game (27.05)

• 15. Points per game (24.27)

• 28. Scoring margin (6.73)

• 29. Draw controls per game (16.23)

• 32. Assists per game (7.73)

• 36. Clearing Percentage (.854)

Individual Rankings

Gillian Brennan

• 39. Goals (69)

• 55. Gillian Brennan (91)

Lydia Cassilly

• 21. Points (104)

• 56. Goals (66)

• 68. Assists (38)

Lane Lambeth

• 80. Goals (61)

Lauren Pittman

• 34. Goals (70)

• 45. Points (94)

Alyssa Moran

• 46. Goals against average (9.63)

• 98. Saves (130)

Franklin & Marshall in the Final Four (5-7 all-time)

1981: Franklin & Marshall 10, Wheaton (Mass.) 6 - AIAW Semifinals
1982: Millersville 9, Franklin & Marshall 8 - AIAW Semifinals
1983: Franklin & Marshall 12, Ithaca 4 - USWLA Semifinals
1991: Ursinus 7, Franklin & Marshall 3
1993: College of New Jersey 11, Franklin & Marshall 9
2007: Franklin & Marshall 13, Gettysburg 8
2008: Franklin & Marshall 14, College of New Jersey 12
2009: Franklin & Marshall 16, Hamilton 13
2010: Hamilton 12, Franklin & Marshall 7
2015: Trinity 11, Franklin & Marshall 6
2016: Trinity 6, Franklin & Marshall 2
2023: Middlebury 22, Franklin & Marshall 13

Franklin & Marshall in the National Championship (2-3 all-time)

1981: Trenton State (TCNJ) 7, Franklin & Marshall 6 - AIAW National Championship
1983: Ursinus 10, Franklin & Marshall 5 - USWLA National Championship
2007: Franklin & Marshall 11, Salisbury 8
2008: Hamilton 13, Franklin & Marshall 6
2009: Franklin & Marshall 11, Salisbury 10 (OT)