MADISON, N.J. (September 4, 2019) – Junior Megan March made nine saves, but the FDU field hockey team was topped by No. 10 Franklin & Marshall College 2-0 Tuesday evening.

FDU falls to 2-1 on the season, while the Diplomats improve to 2-0. 

The first quarter saw the two sides battled for control of the midfield, with the visiting Diplomats taking the only three shots of the frame. The visitors were awarded consecutive penalty corners midway through the quarter, but one shot was saved by March while the other trickled wide.

The Devils took control early in the second stanza, gaining three penalty corners within the first 1:37. Senior Ariana Wexler had the best chance, but the Diplomat defenders blocked her shot from in close. After March made back-to-back stops, the visitors were awarded a penalty stroke. Kat Horsley broke the deadlock 7:10 into the period to give F&M the lead.

Two minutes after the goal, sophomore Haleigh Flukey put the Devils first shot on goal, but the keeper saved her shot. With under 30 seconds left in the half, the Diplomats had two additional shots, but one was blocked while March made one save with 17 ticks left in the half.

Neither side was able to generate much offense early in the third before the Devils defense had to fend off two straight penalty corners as time expired. FDU was on the hunt for the equalizer and nearly found the back of the cage in the 46th minute. Off a penalty corner, sophomore Sydney Moskal inserted to senior Maggie Sohns. Sohns took a shot, but it glanced off of the goalkeeper and away.

Franklin and Marshall looked to have doubled the lead in the 55th minute, but senior Marie Pietracatella deflected a ball off the goal line for a defensive save. However, seconds later, Lily Mynott corralled a rebound in front to stretch the lead to 2-0, which was the final margin.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• March made a career-high nine saves in the setback. Her previous best was five set last year against New England College.
• Pietracatella notched her 11th career defensive save, and is now seven away from all-time mark of 18 set by Erin O'Connell.
• This was the second meeting between the two sides dating back to 2009.

UP NEXT
FDU returns home on Saturday when they host Centenary University at noon.