LANCASTER, Pa. – The top-ranked Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team defeated No. 16 Washington and Lee, 16-8, in its season opener on Saturday afternoon at Tylus Field.

The Generals (2-2) got on the board first just 2:21 into the contest with an unassisted goal from junior midfielder Kate Donnelly (Houston, Texas/St. John's School). However, F&M (1-0) would go on to record five unanswered goals over the next 10:08, including two from senior attacker Blake Hargest, to take the 5-1 lead with 16:47 remaining in the first half. W&L would add two more goals in the first stanza from sophomore midfielder Christina Benedetti (Derwood, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross) at 15:41 and junior midfielder Emmy Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) with 2:59 remaining, but the Diplomats would take an 8-3 lead into the half.

F&M opened up the second half scoring with three-consecutive goals over 2:15 and would not allow W&L to get closer than seven goals in recording the eight-goal victory.

W&L was paced by Benedetti, who notched three goals on the day. The Generals also received goals from Donnelly, Emmy Mathews, senior attacker Meredith Freeman (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS), junior attacker Wilton Megargel (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne's Belfield) and first-year attacker Elizabeth Bucklee (Princeton, N.J./Stuart County Day).

F&M was led by Hargest, junior attacker Laura Ruppersberger and first-year midfielder Margaret Shields, who all recorded three goals. Junior attacker Meredeith Lussier and sophomore midfielder Cat Serpe both added two goals on the day, while senior attacker Sarah Veneski, sophomore attacker Erin Dunne and sophomore midfielder Lauren Ehrhardt tallied one goal apiece.

Junior goalie Katharine Farrar (Lexington, Va./Episcopal) played all 60:00 in net for the Generals, recording 13 saves. F&M senior goalie Lidia Sanza also played the duration and stopped eight shots.

The Generals return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Sweet Briar for a 4:15 contest.

W&L GOALS
Christina Benedetti, 3; Elizabeth Bucklee, 1; Kate Donnelly, 1; Meredith Freeman, 1; Emmy Mathews, 1; Wilton Megargel 1

W&L ASSISTS
Maddie McKaig, 1

F&M GOALS
Blake Hargest, 3; Laura Ruppersberger, 3; Margaret Shields, 3; Merdeith Lussier, 2; Cat Serpe, 2; Erin Dunne, 1; Lauren Ehrhardt, 1; Sarah Veneski, 1

F&M ASSISTS
Meredith Lussier, 3; Cat Serpe, 3; Sarah Veneski, 2; Erin Dunne, 1; Blake Hargest, 1; Margaret Shields, 1

GOALKEEPERS
Lidia Sanza (F&M) – 60:00, 8 saves, 8 GA
Katharine Farrar (W&L) – 60:00, 13 saves, 16 GA

--GENERALS--