By James Wagner
Director of Athletic Communications

LANCASTER, Pa. – In a rematch of last year's Centennial Conference championship, the Ursinus College field hockey team raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead and never looked back as the Bears (6-1, 3-0 Centennial) defeated Franklin & Marshall (8-1, 2-1 Centennial) 5-2 Saturday afternoon at Tylus Field.

The Bears, ranked eighth in the latest Division III poll, led the Diplomats (8-1, 2-1 Centennial) by as much as four goals before F&M put two on in the second half.

Junior forward Samantha Macchio (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow) had two goals, while junior midfielder Megan Keenan (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) had a goal and an assist. Junior goalkeeper Danielle DeSpiritio (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) had a great game in goal, stopping six shots.

Ursinus got on the board 8:11 into the game when junior forward Danielle Stong (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) scored unassisted for a1-0 lead, followed by Macchio's first goal on an assist by junior Kelsey Reed at 23:32 for the 2-0 lead.

Keenan scored the third goal of the game, on a penalty stroke, with 7:53 left until halftime for a 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Ursinus took a 4-0 lead at 43:41 when Macchio scored her second of the game on a an assist by Keenan.

Franklin & Marshall got on the board at 57:03 when Maria Guarisco scored on a Tamara Mills assist.

The final goal for Ursinus came at 61:38 when junior forward Devin Brakel (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor Plainsboro North) scored on a senior defender Nora Kornfeld (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) assist, followed by Guarisco's second goal of the game for the Diplomats with 2:38 left.

The stats were pretty even, as Ursinus held a 17-15 lead on shots, while F&M had 15 penalty corners to Ursinus' 12.

The Bears host Swarthmore on Wednesday.