Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg each posted victories in the NCAA Sweet 16 on Saturday to move on to Sunday's quarterfinal round. This marks the second-straight season and 12th time in Centennial history that two teams have made it to the quarterfinals in the same season. Eleven of those 12 occurences have involved the Diplomats and Bullets.
In Lexington, Va., ninth-ranked Gettysburg took down host and second-ranked Washington and Lee, 11-8, to move on to the quarterfinals. The win avenged a 10-9 overtime loss to the Generals in Gettysburg on March 4. The Bullets (17-4) will take on York (18-3) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with a spot in the national semifinals at stake. York defeated Salisbury 12-10 in the other regional semifinal in Lexington.
Julia Daly scored a career-high six goals to lead the Bullet attack, including four of the first five. Gillian Cortese backstopped the defense with nine saves, including four huge fourth-quarter stops.
In Gambier, Ohio, eighth-ranked Franklin & Marshall dispatched Denision 15-6, sending the Diplomats to the Elite Eight for the 24th time in program history. F&M (17-4) will meet 18th-ranked Pomona-Pitzer (21-1) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Maddy Birch (4 goals) and Lane Lambeth (3 goals) paced nine different goal scorers for the Diplomats throughout Saturday's Sweet 16 matchup. Lambeth was especially precise with her shooting as she rattled the back of the cage with each of her three shots on goal. Birch tied for the team in points with Lydia Cassilly (2 goals, 2 assists) and Lauren Pittman (1 goal, 3 assists).