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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Diplomats' win over Salisbury an exercise in control
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The NCAA News
Franklin & Marshall approached the Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a simple philosophy: Control the ball, control the game. The Diplomats did just that, beating Salisbury, 11-8, by winning most of the second-half draws and forcing the Sea Gulls to vigorously defend their goal.
The championship game was May 20 at William Smith.
Franklin & Marshall opened with an unassisted goal from Ashley Bevington less than a minute into the contest. From there, the teams traded goals until they had four apiece at the half.
The Diplomats scored three consecutive goals to start the second half, assisted by six straight draw victories. Jen Pritchard, the tournament’s most outstanding player, scored all of her four goals in the second half. Teammate Sarah Mesienberg also scored four times in the contest.
The Sea Gulls made a run during the closing seconds, with senior Natalie Degele and sophomore Robyn Bishop both scoring within 13 seconds of each other, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Diplomats’ lead.
Salisbury coach Jim Nestor said his team played its best but couldn’t get the edge offensively.
“I thought it was a great accomplishment for our team,” Nestor said. “Our team left it all out on the field.”
The 21-2 Sea Gulls, whose only two defeats came at the hands of Franklin & Marshall, set school records for goals, assists and points scored.
“I wouldn’t have asked for a better team to play for during my college career,” said senior Kelly Simmons. “My senior year could have been better with a championship, but we played with heart and hustle and that is all we could have asked for. That is a huge success to have on a team.”
Franklin & Marshall’s undefeated season was only the 12th in Division III women’s lacrosse, and the title is the institution’s second. Freshman Blake Hargest also set a record for most assists in the tournament, finishing with 14.
Hargest and teammates Meisenberg, Pritchard, Em Gill and Lidia Sanza were named to the all-tournament team. Salisbury’s Robyn Bishop, Natalie Degele and Kelly Phillips also joined them. Gettysburg’s Laurie Goon and Megan Moore and Middlebury’s Clair Edelen and Kate Perry also were selected.
Semifinals
Frank. & Marsh. 5 8 — 13
Gettysburg 1 6 — 6
Frank. & Marsh. scoring: Jen Pritchard 5, Blake Hargest 4, Kelly Cassels 2, Shannon Summers 1, Ashley Bevington 1.
Gettysburg scoring: Megan Moore 2, Katie Hagan 2, Alexandra Ewing 1, Katie Ceglarski 1, Jen Betts 1.
Shots: Frank. & Marsh. 33, Gettysburg 23. Goalkeeper saves: Frank. & Marsh. (Lidia Sanza) 7, Gettysburg (Kristen Krammer) 10.
Salisbury 5 3 — 8
Middlebury 5 2 — 7
Salisbury scoring: Natalie Degele 2, Robyn Bishop 2, Kelly Mulligan 1, Stephanie Shores 1, Jessica Liston 1, Alexis Morrell 1.
Middlebury scoring: Claire Edelen 2, Katherine Entwisle 2, Amanda Smith 2, Dana Heritage 1.
Shots: Salisbury 27, Middlebury 21. Goalkeeper saves: Salisbury (Sonja Stuard) 7, Middlebury (Blair Bowie) 7.
Championship
Frank. & Marsh. 4 7 — 11
Salisbury 4 4 — 8
Frank. & Marsh. scoring: Jen Pritchard 4, Sarah Meisenberg 4, Ashley Bevington 2, Blake Hargest 1.
Salisbury scoring: Natalie Degele 2, Katie Simmons 2, Sue Ackermann 1, Stephanie Shores 1, Robyn Bishop 1, Alexis Morrell 1.
Shots: Frank. & Marsh. 22, Salisbury 27. Goalkeeper saves: Frank. & Marsh. (Lidia Sanza) 10, Salisbury (Sonja Stuart) 6.
The championship game was May 20 at William Smith.
Franklin & Marshall opened with an unassisted goal from Ashley Bevington less than a minute into the contest. From there, the teams traded goals until they had four apiece at the half.
The Diplomats scored three consecutive goals to start the second half, assisted by six straight draw victories. Jen Pritchard, the tournament’s most outstanding player, scored all of her four goals in the second half. Teammate Sarah Mesienberg also scored four times in the contest.
The Sea Gulls made a run during the closing seconds, with senior Natalie Degele and sophomore Robyn Bishop both scoring within 13 seconds of each other, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Diplomats’ lead.
Salisbury coach Jim Nestor said his team played its best but couldn’t get the edge offensively.
“I thought it was a great accomplishment for our team,” Nestor said. “Our team left it all out on the field.”
The 21-2 Sea Gulls, whose only two defeats came at the hands of Franklin & Marshall, set school records for goals, assists and points scored.
“I wouldn’t have asked for a better team to play for during my college career,” said senior Kelly Simmons. “My senior year could have been better with a championship, but we played with heart and hustle and that is all we could have asked for. That is a huge success to have on a team.”
Franklin & Marshall’s undefeated season was only the 12th in Division III women’s lacrosse, and the title is the institution’s second. Freshman Blake Hargest also set a record for most assists in the tournament, finishing with 14.
Hargest and teammates Meisenberg, Pritchard, Em Gill and Lidia Sanza were named to the all-tournament team. Salisbury’s Robyn Bishop, Natalie Degele and Kelly Phillips also joined them. Gettysburg’s Laurie Goon and Megan Moore and Middlebury’s Clair Edelen and Kate Perry also were selected.
Semifinals
Frank. & Marsh. 5 8 — 13
Gettysburg 1 6 — 6
Frank. & Marsh. scoring: Jen Pritchard 5, Blake Hargest 4, Kelly Cassels 2, Shannon Summers 1, Ashley Bevington 1.
Gettysburg scoring: Megan Moore 2, Katie Hagan 2, Alexandra Ewing 1, Katie Ceglarski 1, Jen Betts 1.
Shots: Frank. & Marsh. 33, Gettysburg 23. Goalkeeper saves: Frank. & Marsh. (Lidia Sanza) 7, Gettysburg (Kristen Krammer) 10.
Salisbury 5 3 — 8
Middlebury 5 2 — 7
Salisbury scoring: Natalie Degele 2, Robyn Bishop 2, Kelly Mulligan 1, Stephanie Shores 1, Jessica Liston 1, Alexis Morrell 1.
Middlebury scoring: Claire Edelen 2, Katherine Entwisle 2, Amanda Smith 2, Dana Heritage 1.
Shots: Salisbury 27, Middlebury 21. Goalkeeper saves: Salisbury (Sonja Stuard) 7, Middlebury (Blair Bowie) 7.
Championship
Frank. & Marsh. 4 7 — 11
Salisbury 4 4 — 8
Frank. & Marsh. scoring: Jen Pritchard 4, Sarah Meisenberg 4, Ashley Bevington 2, Blake Hargest 1.
Salisbury scoring: Natalie Degele 2, Katie Simmons 2, Sue Ackermann 1, Stephanie Shores 1, Robyn Bishop 1, Alexis Morrell 1.
Shots: Frank. & Marsh. 22, Salisbury 27. Goalkeeper saves: Frank. & Marsh. (Lidia Sanza) 10, Salisbury (Sonja Stuart) 6.
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