Box Score BOX SCORE

LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ithaca College women's lacrosse team fell to nationally-ranked Franklin and Marshall on Saturday, 15-5, as the Bombers were unable to close a four goal halftime gap.  With the loss, Ithaca falls to 1-2 overall while the Diplomats remain unbeaten at 4-0.

Franklin and Marshall, which entered the game ranked third in the latest national poll, scored the game's opening goal just 12 seconds into the contest, but the Bombers knotted things up 18 seconds later when Morgan Racicot found Gaby Berne who netted the equalizer.

The Diplomats would build a two-goal advantage over the next four minutes only to see the Bombers battle back with two goals of their own.  Racicot made it a 3-2 game after recording an unassisted tally at 22:56 before Riley Marion tied things up just over a minute later on a feed from Allison Panara to make it 3-3.

Franklin and Marshall controlled the tempo for the next six minutes of play and would score three goals in that stretch to take a 6-3 lead.  Marion would tally her second goal of the first half with 12:05 left to play before halftime to make it 6-4, but Franklin and Marshall would close out the stanza with two unanswered goals to hold an 8-4 margin at the break.

The Bombers would cut the deficit to three goals four minutes into the second half when Morgan Caldwell fed Gaby Berne for the goal, but the Diplomats would close out the game with seven goals to earn the 15-5 win.

Berne and Marion each scored twice for Ithaca while Racicot notched three points on one goal and two assists. 

Emily Ross started between the pipes and was saddled with the loss after surrendering eight goals in 30 minutes.  She made 4 saves in all.  Kimberly Presuto also saw time in net for the Bombers and made five saves while giving up seven goals.

As a team, the Bombers were outshot 35-18 but forced the Diplomats into nine turnovers.

Ithaca will return to action at 12 p.m. on Monday when it takes on Babson College in Orlando, Fla.