TIGERS FALL TO #19 FRANKLIN & MARSHALL, 4-0

Game Box Score

(September 7, 2007) ELIZABETHTOWN, PA – Franklin & Marshall senior forward Ryan McGonigle scored two goals and recorded one assist to lead the 19th-ranked Diplomats to a 4-0 win over Hampden-Sydney on the opening evening of the JAKO/Brothers Pizza Blue Jay Classic hosted by Elizabethtown College. The Tigers were outshot 8-3 in the first 45 minutes en route to giving up three goals in the opening stanza. With the loss, Hampden-Sydney drops to 1-2 on the young season while Franklin & Marshall improves to 3-0.

Diplomats forward Brandon Corday opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as he touched a through ball from McGonigle past charging Tigers keeper Ben Marchetti (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) and buried his shot into an empty net. Just six minutes later, Franklin & Marshall would extend their lead to 2-0, as McGonigle connected on the first of his two goals, firing a shot that touched just on the underside of the crossbar and fell into the bottom of the cage.

The Diplomats would increase their advantage to 3-0 with just under ten minutes remaining in the first half, when midfielder Matthew Krantz drove home a bullet from 16 yards out.

The Tigers played well in the second half, outshooting the Diplomats 5-4 in the period. However, just six minutes into the half, McGonigle would strike again, this time converting on a turnover in the Tigers’ back line for the final 4-0 count.

Marchetti recorded three saves on the evening for the Tigers, while freshman keeper John Robert Plyler (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park) was impressive in his Tigers debut, stopping one shot and showing great poise in one half of play.

The Tigers return to action tomorrow night, Saturday, Sept. 8, as they take on host Elizabethtown at 7pm.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-