#2 Franklin & Marshall 14, #3 The College of New Jersey 12

The Diplomats Endure Late Game Battle

May 17, 2008

SALEM, Va. --- Franklin & Marshall College withstood a late charge from The College of New Jersey in the second semifinal of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship, punching its ticket to the title game for the second time in as many years.  The Diplomats (19-1) move on to face Hamilton College in Sunday’s championship in an attempt to win their second straight D-III title.  The Lions bow out with a 17-2 overall record.

Sarah Meisenberg scored two unassisted goals in less than a minute to give the Diplomats a 13-10 lead with 10:09 remaining.  TCNJ then netted two straight goals to make it a 13-12 game, but a Jen Pritchard goal with 2:47 left gave the Diplomats enough cushion to run out the remaining time on the clock.

Meisenberg tallied seven points on the evening on five goals and two assists.  Mary Blake Harges and Jen Pritchard both scored three goals to help propel Franklin & Marshall to the championship game. 

“Everyone on our team can score,” said Meisenberg.  “We know where we are all moving and we all look for the opens spots to pass the ball.  The key to our success is having dynamic offense.”

F&M goalie Lidia Sanza came away with a game-high 11 saves on the afternoon.  Much of her attention was the result of a 19-9 edge in draw controls for TCNJ.

TCNJ was led by Karen Doane who netted five goals for the Lions.  Teammate Katie Reuther added two goals and two assists for four points.  Caitlin Gregory made seven saves between the pipes.

“It is always very exciting to be here,” said TCNJ head coach, Sharon Pfluger.   “My job is to get these girls to this level, and we worked hard to get here.  It is wonderful to be back, it is nice to be a part of something that is bigger than you.”

Franklin & Marshall and Hamilton (19-1) are “new and newer” in terms of national championship play.  While they won the 2007 championship, the Diplomats’ trip back to the deciding game is only their second appearance in such a contest in program history.  Comparatively, that experience is much more that Hamilton brings into the contest as the Continentals will be making the first national title game appearance in any sport for the school.

“The championship will be a tight game,” explained F&M head coach, Anne Phillips.  “Every possession will matter.”

The 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship title game is set for 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at Donald J. Kerr Stadium at Roanoke College.  The event will also be televised live by the CBS College Sports Network.