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LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College is ranked #19 in the September 16 STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Coaches Poll. The ranking marks the Diplomats first appearance in the NFHCA national poll since the week of September 14, 2000 when the team dropped Catholic 3-0 to improve to 4-1, the program's best start since 1982. The Diplomats (3-1, 0-0 Centennial Conference) are coming off back-to-back wins over then #4 nationally ranked Lebanon Valley (2-1 W) and Elizabeththown (5-2 W) as the team opened the season by downing Manhattanville (2-1 W OT) and falling to Drew (4-1 L). Last week, midfielder Brenna Dolphin (Fr., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) made her first intercollegiate goal count burying a shot with 10:37 left in the first half for the deciding factor in the squad's victory over Lebanon Valley. Tied 1-1 following an unassisted score by LVC's Steph Marguglio with 14:40 left in the period, Dolphin accepted a pass from Lindsay Mohr (Jr., Pennsburg, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and beat Dutchwomen's goalie Abbey Gockley with a low shot on her glove side for the game-winner. The Diplomats jumped on the board first as Stacy Swymelar (So., Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) buried a pass from Eileen Keever (So., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) off a rebound from Gockley's pads to take the lead. In goal, Michelle Altman (So., Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) recorded 16 saves on 19 Dutchwomen shots as the loss dropped LVC to #8 in the nation. Overall, the win snapped a 10-game losing streak by the Franklin & Marshall to Lebanon Valley as the Diplomats last defeated LVC in 1992. On September 15, Franklin & Marshall rolled to a 3-1 start with a 5-2 victory at Elizabethtown behind four goals from Britanny Croll (So., Frankford, DE/Indian River). Franklin & Marshall will return to the field with a swing through Virginia this weekend. On Saturday, the Diplomats will visit Harrisonburg, Virginia to square off with #16 Eastern Mennonite University (5-0) before traveling to Fredricksburg, Virginia on Sunday to face #11 Mary Washington College (3-1). Game times are set at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively.
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