Diplomats Secure Playoff Spot

Box Score

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall's field hockey team travelled to Swarthmore on Saturday in need of a win to keep the season alive. A three-goal surge in the second half delivered the needed victory as F&M stole a 4-2 decision at Clothier Field. The Diplomats' (10-7, 5-5 CC) win, combined with Haverford's win over McDaniel pushed F&M into the playoffs.

Becky Willert netted a pair of goals, including the game winner. Chelsey Talhelm gathered a rebound and sent it across the goalmouth to Willert who banged it home for the decisive tally at 51:54. Stolle Singleton put F&M in position for the go ahead goal, knotting the game just under five minutes into the second period. Eileen O'Rielly's steal and score at the 62:09 mark sealed the victory.

A pair of Garnet (5-12, 1-8 CC) goals 1:23 apart nearly ended F&M's hopes for Centennial Conference postseason appearance. Just past the midway point in the half, Swarthmore scored on back-to-back penalty corners. Sophia Agatha fired a shot past Naomi Stone from the top of the box at 19:14. 83 seconds later, Sophia Ferguson sorted out confusion in front of the net by placing the ball in the F&M cage.

F&M got the early jump when Willert collected her own rebound and fired it home past Swarthmore's Gina Grubb at the 6:43 mark. Grubb recorded seven saves in the first half to keep her team in the lead at the half.  She finished with 17 saves in the game. Stone saved three of Swarthmore's seven shots in the contest.

Franklin & Marshall will play as the fifth seed in Wednesday's Centennial Championship First Round game. They will face fourth seeded Haverford.

Franklin & Marshall (10-7, 5-5 CC) vs. Swarthmore (5-12, 1-8 CC)
Date: Oct 31, 2009  Attendance: 165
Weather: Rain

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Franklin & Marshall 1 3 4
Swarthmore 2 0 2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1 6:43 F&M BECKY WILLERT (unassisted) - off rebound in front of net
2 19:14 SWATFH Sophia Agathis (unassisted) - broken play off corner
3 20:37 SWATFH Sophia Ferguson (Catie Meador) - one-timed in front of net
4 39:53 F&M STOLLE SINGLETON (unassisted) - off rebound
5 54:51 F&M BECKY WILLERT (CHELSEY TALHELM) - off rebound
6 62:09 F&M EILEEN O'REILLY (unassisted) - stole ball, drove to cage

Shots: Franklin & Marshall 33, Swarthmore 7
Saves: Franklin & Marshall 3 (NAOMI STONE 3), Swarthmore 17 (Gina Grubb 17)