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LEXINGTON, VA -- Franklin & Marshall College attackman Bryan Nolan (Sr., Scottsdale, AZ/Western Reserve) finished a pass from Colin Hanley (So., Davidsonville, MD/DeMatha) with 3:06 left in regulation as the Diplomats scored two goals in the final 4:53 of the game for a 5-4 upset of host #3 ranked Washington & Lee University in men's lacrosse action. The fourth quarter was dramatic as the Generals (3-1) assumed a 4-3 lead on a goal by midfielder Dustin Martin with 8:04 remaining in the game, but Bas Solleveld (Jr., Glenmoore, PA/Shipley) knotted the score at 4-4 at the 4:53 mark to set up Nolan's game-winner as F&M (4-0, 1-0 Centennial Conference) defeated W&L for the first time since a 10-9 overtime win at home on Sponaugle-Williamson Field on March 30, 1996. Clutching the one goal lead, F&M's defense stifled Washington & Lee's offense the rest of the way as Diplomat goaltender Mike Sartorius (So., Summit, NJ/Summit) recorded three of his 11 saves in the final quarter. The Generals had several opportunities to tie the score and force overtime in the final minutes, but Sartorius stepped up to shut-down the W&L attack. The Generals best chance at tying the score came with 30 seconds remaining as attackman Jack Murray found himself one-on-one with Sartorius on a fast break, but the sophomore goalie forced Murray to shoot high as the shot sailed over the net. The game was a see-saw battle from the outset as W&L's Matt Fink scored an unassisted tally at the 14:47 mark, but Hanley responded to tie the score as he beat Generals' goalie Ansel Sanders. Martin added the first of two unassisted goals in the game at 10:41 of the first as Washington & Lee retook the lead. However, F&M team co-captain Jon Singer (Sr., Reisterstown, MD/Boys' Latin) sliced through the Generals' defense with 3:14 left in the opening quarter as the two teams entered the second period tied at 2-2. In the second quarter, it was all F&M as the Diplomats outshot W&L 9-4, including a blast off the stick of attackman Steve Welsh (So., Lewes, DE/Cape Henelopen) which found the back of the net for a 3-2 F&M lead at halftime. Washington & Lee responded in the third edging out F&M 9-8 in shots while Gavin Molinelli netted the tying score as the two teams entered the fourth tied at 3-3. In goal, Sartorius made 11 saves and scooped 11 ground balls in 58:40 play, while Rob Hamilton (Fr., Monkton, MD/Gilman) stopped the only shot he faced in 1:20 of relief for Sartorius who was forced from the game with a penalty. For W&L, Sanders recorded 12 saves on 31 shots and registered 11 groundballs in the loss. The key to the game for F&M was defense as the Diplomats held the Generals 0-for-two on extra man opportunities to remain perfect on this year at 0-for-23. In addition, the Diplomats registered 21 clears on 31 opportunities. In face-offs, Matt Capone (So., Scarsdale, NY/Scarsdale) won six-of-13, including four-of-six in the last half of the game at Franklin & Marshall controlled the ball and tempo of the contest in the waning minutes. The win improves F&M to 4-0, as the Diplomats became the first CC team in three attempts to defeat Washington & Lee. Previously, CC pre-season favorites Gettysburg and Washington fell by 10-9 and 6-5 finals to the Generals, respectively. F&M will continue the season on Wednesday, March 19 at Randolph Macon College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. in Ashland, Virginia.
SCORE BY PERIODS
Franklin & Marshall (4-0, 1-0 CC) 2-1-0-2 5
Washington & Lee (3-1) 2-0-1-1 4 Goals:
F&M - Colin Hanley (1), Jon Singer (1), Bryan Nolan (1), Bas Solleveld (1), Steve Welsh (1)
W&L - Dustin Martin (2), Matt Fink (1), Gavin Molinelli (1) Assists:
F&M - Steve Welsh (1), Colin Hanley (1)
W&L - none
Goalie (Saves/Shots/Goals Allowed/Minutes)
F&M - Mike Sartorius (11/28/4/58:40), Rob Hamilton (1/1/0/1:20)
W&L - Ansel Sanders (12/31/5/60:00) Shots - F&M 31, W&L 29
Ground Balls - F&M 39, W&L 46
Face-Offs - F&M 6 of 13, W&L 7 of 13
Extra man - F&M 0 for 3, W&L 0 for 2
Clears - F&M 21 of 31, W&L 16 of 19
Attendance - 457
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