Game Notes

The Franklin & Marshall men's soccer team (2-1-1) prepares for a two-game homestand this week, including its Centennial Conference (CC) opener on Saturday. The Diplomats will kick off against Penn State-Harrisburg (2-1-2) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. F&M then concludes the week against 14th-ranked Washington (1-1-2) on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Last Week

The Diplomats started the week by playing to a 1-1 draw against Kean. After 45 minutes with no score, the Cougars struck first in the 61st minute of play. The Diplomats continued to attack the net and finally tied the game in the 89th minute. Shay Adamson controlled the ball in the offensive area and lost his defender to send a crossing pass in front of the net that Oscar Horwitz met in the air to head it in for the equalizer. Read the recap here.

Franklin & Marshall pushed past Elizabethtown 1-0 Saturday night in the Battle for the Smith-Herr Boot. The Diplomats earned a corner kick in the 24th minute that set up Philip Monos, who sent his crossing pass into the box. Nathan Schlessinger directed it into the net with a header to take the lead. It was the fourth consecutive year F&M won the Battle for the Smith-Herr Boot, stretching back to the 2018 season. Read the recap here.

Last Time

The second-ranked Diplomats edged Penn State-Harrisburg 1-0 in two overtime periods during the 2021 season. Franklin and Marshall drew a penalty kick in the final minute of second overtime. A.J. Kopacz '21 stepped up to bury the game winner with 40 seconds remaining on the clock. Sam Farrell made six saves to keep the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard. Read the recap here.

F&M last met Washington in the CC Semifinal where the Shoreman came out on top 1-0 in overtime. F&M outshot WC in the game 15-6, but the Diplomats couldn't find the back of the net. F&M came close to an early goal in the third minute on a shot from Oscar Horwitz, but his attempt clanged off the post. Read the recap here.

Ranked Opposition

Franklin & Marshall men's soccer is 6-3-1 against ranked opponents in its last 10 regular season games stretching back to the 2017 season. F&M's last victory against a ranked team came in the 2017 season when the Diplomats defeated 23rd-ranked Johns Hopkins 2-0. In the win, then 16th-ranked Diplomats scored a 70th minute goal from Koa Kaliebe. F&M added an insurance goal in the 87th minute from Oscar Horwitz. Read the recap here.

Conference Openers

The men's soccer team is 6-3-1 in CC opening games in its last 10 matches. Last year, F&M lost to Washington 2-0 in the CC opener. The last conference opener win came against Muhlenberg in 2019 when the Diplomats pulled off the 2-1 victory. A.J. Kopacz scored both goals for the Diplomats in the win, as F&M outshot the Mules 13-6.

Penn State-Harrisburg Team Preview

The Nittany Lions began the 2022 campaign with back-to-back 1-1 draws to Alvernia and Stevenson. PSU-Harrisburg then went on to beat Rosemont 3-2. The Nittany Lions' last two games have been at the Brian Karl Tourament where they lost 4-2 to Medaille before blanking Alfred 3-0. Luke Myers and Daniel Fombu lead the team in points with seven each. Goalkeeper Esteban Leon has a goals-against average of 2.31 and a save percentage of 55.6 percent.

Washington Team Preview

The Shoreman started their season with a scoreless draw to Salisbury before tying York 1-1. Washington went on to beat Eastern 3-1 and lose 2-1 to Cabrini. Midfielder Harrison Malone holds the team lead in points with five and has two goals so far this season. Goalkeeper Anthony Pinto sports a goals-against average of 0.80 and a save percentage of 71.4 percent.