LANCASTER, Pa. – An early goal had the Ursinus College women's lacrosse team playing tight with No. 4 Franklin & Marshall in the opening stages of Saturday's Centennial Conference contest, but the hosts reeled off ten unanswered markers over the course of the period to disengage for a 13-2 victory.
Sophomore Hannah Reape and senior Bridget Sherry had the goals for the Bears (2-10, 1-4). Senior Kaci McNeave assisted on Reape's opener for her 100th career point.
The Diplomats jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside the first four minutes, but Reape got the visitors on the score sheet when she sent a feed from McNeave into the back of the cage to get within a goal at the 25:11 mark of the first half. The assist was the 42nd for McNeave, who has 58 goals in her career for an even 100 points.
The momentum did not last, however, as Megan Jackson scored four times during a 10-0 run by the home side to close the half, including a free-position shot with 2:39 to go and another tally with just 15 seconds on the clock.
With the Diplomats (10-3, 5-0) firmly in control, the second half was played under a running clock and featured only three combined goals. Sherry made it 12-2 on a free-position conversion with 4:44 remaining before F&M tacked on one more.
Sherry produced four draw controls and three ground balls, and sophomore Molly Divis collected three ground balls in addition to one caused turnover.
Senior Kaitlyn France made 16 saves between the pipes, giving her 33 in her last two outings.
The Diplomats controlled a 43-11 surplus in shots, although draws mere much tighter at 9-7.
The women's lacrosse team continues conference play at Bryn Mawr next Wednesday.