EWING, N.J. – No. 7 Franklin & Marshall fell 9-6 to No. 1 TCNJ in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon. The Diplomats dropped to 18-5 this season, while the Lions improved to 20-2 and advanced to Final Four next weekend.
TCNJ took an early 2-0 lead 10 minutes into the game, before the Diplomats answered with a three-goal spurt for 3-2 lead with 9:23 left in the first. Paige Moriarty started the run on a free position goal and Grace Norley tied the game when she buried a pass from Caroline Kolva with a little more than 10 minutes left. Kolva put F&M up 3-2 seconds later on a free position goal. The Lions countered with a three-goal run of their own and took a 5-3 edge into the break.
F&M came out of the break and scored two straight to tie the game at 5-5. Kolva struck first at 27:08 and Brianna Gorman finished off a pass from Jane Cote at 23:49 to tie the game. The Lions countered with three goals in a 1:10 span and went ahead 8-5 with 19:54 left to play. TCNJ increased their lead to four goals with a score at 17:28 for a 9-5 advantage and Clare Monaghan scored off a pass from Cote for the final score of the game.
Caroline Kolva paced the offense with two goals and one assist, while Grace Norley, Paige Moriarty, Clare Monaghan and Brianna Gorman all ended with a score. Jane Cote added two assists for the Diplomats.
Moriarty added three caused turnovers on the defensive side with two ground balls and Megan Jackson came away with six draws. Danielle Harrington took the loss in goal after turning away seven shots.
F&M wrapped up the season with an 18-5 record and after advancing to the NCAA for the sixth straight season. The Diplomats have made two Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and two Final Fours in those appearances.