GENEVA, N.Y. -- Sophomores Jen Pritchard and Sarah Meisenberg each netted four goals to lead the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats to their first NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship this afternoon on William Smith College's McCooey Field. The Diplomats downed the Sea Gulls from Salisbury University 11-8, and became the 12th women's lacrosse champion to go undefeated on the season at 21-0.

Pritchard was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Meisenberg, first-year goalkeeper Lidia Sanza, first-year attacker Blake Hargest, and senior defender Em Gill were also named to the All-Tournament Team from Franklin and Marshall.

Hargest broke the record for assists in an NCAA Tournament. She tallied a goal and an assist on the day, raising her tournament total to 14 assists. Sophomore Ashley Bevington tallied twice for F&M, while senior Kelly Cassels added two assists and sophomore Shannon Summers recorded one.

Salisbury was led by seniors Natalie Degele and Katie Simmons. Each tallied two goals, while Degele also added a helper. Junior Sue Ackermann totaled a goal and two assists, while sophomore Robyn Bishop, senior Stephanie Shores, and junior Alexis Morrell each added a goal for the Sea Gulls (21-2). Bishop, Degele, and Phillips all earned spots on the All-Tournament squad.

The Diplomats started the scoring less than a minute into the game, with an unassisted goal by Bevington. Ackermann found Morrell at 6:03 to tie the game at 1-1. The teams traded goals for the remainder of the half, and went into the break deadlocked at 4-all.

Franklin and Marshall recorded two three-goal runs in the second half to secure the victory. Meisenberg netted the first two goals of the second half, followed by a Pritchard tally at 37:09, giving the Diplomats a 7-4 lead.

At 52:37, Pritchard sparked another F&M scoring run. Hargest found Pritchard for a tally, followed by an unassisted goal by Meisenberg less than two minutes later, and capped by Pritchard's fourth goal of the day and school record 77th of the season.

The Sea Gulls staged an ill-fated comeback in the final minute of play, netting two goals 13 seconds apart, but got no closer. Degele and Bishop were responsible for the two unassisted scores.

Sanza collected 10 saves in the victory, while sophomore Sonja Stuart turned back six for Salisbury.

The Sea Gulls outshot the Diplomats, 27-22, and collected more ground balls, 14-7, but F&M held the advantage on draw controls, 13-7. The Sea Gulls were 0-4 on free position shots, while the Diplomats were 1-3.

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All-Tournament Team
Robin Bishop, Salisbury
Natalie Degele, Salisbury
Clair Edelen, Middlebury
Em Gill, Franklin & Marshall
Laurie Goon, Gettysburg
Blake Hargest, Franklin & Marshall
Sarah Meisenberg, Franklin & Marshall
Megan Moore, Gettysburg
Kate Perry, Middlebury
Kelly Phillips, Salisbury
Jen Pritchard, Franklin & Marshall
Lidia Sanza, Franklin & Marshall

Most Outstanding Player
Jen Pritchard, Franklin & Marshall

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SCORE BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
Salisbury...........  4  4 -  8
Frank. & Marsh......  4  7 - 11
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
    Prd  Time Team     Goal Scorer              Assists
1.  1st 00:53 F&M      Ashley Bevington (40)... Unassisted
2.      06:03 SAL      Alexis Morrell (26)..... Sue Ackermann (67)
3.      07:32 F&M      Sarah Meisenberg (35)... Unassisted
4.      08:46 F&M      Ashley Bevington (41)... Unassisted
5.      09:39 SAL      Katie Simmons (34)...... Kelly Mulligan (8)
6.      17:30 SAL      Katie Simmons (35)...... Sue Ackermann (68)
7.      18:27 F&M      Blake Hargest (43)...... Shannon Summers (31)
8.      24:53 SAL      Stephanie Shores (59)... Natalie Degele (35)
9.  2nd 02:33 F&M      Sarah Meisenberg (36)... Unassisted
10.     06:51 F&M      Sarah Meisenberg (37)... Free position shot
11.     07:09 F&M      Jen Pritchard (74)...... Kelly Cassels (19)
12.     10:23 SAL      Sue Ackermann (51)...... Unassisted
13.     16:54 F&M      Jen Pritchard (75)...... Unassisted
14.     21:11 SAL      Natalie Degele (46)..... Unassisted
15.     22:37 F&M      Jen Pritchard (76)...... Blake Hargest (41)
16.     24:17 F&M      Sarah Meisenberg (38)... Unassisted
17.     27:29 F&M      Jen Pritchard (77)...... Kelly Cassels (20)
18.     29:13 SAL      Natalie Degele (47)..... Unassisted
19.     29:26 SAL      Robyn Bishop (24)....... Unassisted
 
SHOTS-Salisbury 27; Frank. & Marsh. 22.
GROUND BALLS-Salisbury 14; Frank. & Marsh. 7.
DRAW CONTROLS-Salisbury 7; Frank. & Marsh 13
TURNOVERS-Salisbury 16; Frank. & Marsh. 18.
CLEARS-Salisbury 11-14; Frank. & Marsh. 11-17.
FREE-POSITION SHOTS-Salisbury 0-4; Frank. & Marsh. 1-3.

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2007-05-20