Box Score

Although its school-record seven-game winning streak came to an end, the Muhlenberg women's lacrosse team had plenty to feel good about after an 18-12 loss at Franklin & Marshall in its Centennial Conference opener.

The Diplomats came into the week ranked second in Division III and had beaten the Mules by 10 goals last year and by an average of almost 11 goals over the last 10 meetings. The last time the Mules traveled to Lancaster, they trailed 11-4 at halftime and 14-4 early in the second half. The final was 17-6.

This game started out similarly, with F&M (7-1) opening up an 8-1 lead in the first 15:24. But Muhlenberg (7-1) battled back, reeling off the last four goals of the first half to go into the break down only 9-6.

Senior Casey Armstrong scored just 32 seconds into the second half to cut the margin to two. It was still two, at 11-9, before the Diplomats netted the next three goals to build more of a cushion. The Mules did not get closer than four goals the rest of the game.

The 12 goals came against an F&M squad that ranked 12th in Division III in scoring defense, allowing only 5.43 goals per game. Since 2005, the Diplomats had allowed at least 12 goals in a CC game only seven times - three times to Gettysburg, another perennial top 10 team.

Armstrong (pictured above) led the attack with five goals (on five shots) and an assist. Junior Stephanie D'Ascoli and freshman Amanda Tullo scored two goals apiece.