By Jamie Belfer || Sports Editor
The past weekend of October 25th through October 27th marked F&M’s annual homecoming weekend. Many Diplomat teams competed both home and away in their final games of the season. In addition to reconnecting with, and honoring alumni, the women’s soccer and field hockey teams honored their respective seniors prior to each game. Both teams fought with determination and tenacity to secure a victory on this special day.
The Diplomat Field Hockey team competed in the first home game of Homecoming Weekend on Tylus Field against the Bryn Mawr Owls. The entrance of the field was decorated with colorful posters celebrating each of the seven seniors, Erin Coverdale, Melissa Gula, Colleen Francis, Caitlin Morissey, Michaela Nicholas, Katie O’Loughlin, and Claire Murphy. Many families filled the stands, sporting t-shirts with pictures of the seniors’ faces on them. Friends and former players chirped in the stands, cheering their friends on and occasionally screaming out “Don’t worry that was unlucky!” (This was their nice way of heckling the umpire who they thought had missed a foul).
The Diplomats entered the game looking to maintain their undefeated record in the conference. However, Bryn Mawr was a tough opponent, as they held a 6-1 record in the conference. In the first period, the Diplomats quickly took control and forced two quick penalty corners. Within the first two minutes of the game, Lily Mynott scored the first goal for the Diplomats, putting F&M up 1-0. In the next five minutes, the Diplomats took four more shots, each one closer than the next, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. However at the 12:36 mark, Addie Peters scored F&M’s second goal of the game, assisted by Ellie Paige. F&M finished the first period with two additional, but unsuccessful shots on goal.
Franklin & Marshall continued to dominate the rest of the game, outshooting the Owls 38-0. F&M’s ability to prevent the Owls from scoring, let alone taking a shot on goal, shows the true strength of F&M’s impressive defense and team as a whole. To cap off a great senior day, senior captain Michaela Nicholas scored F&M’s final goal and her first goal of the season, with one minute left in the game and secured a 3-0 Diplomat victory.
The women’s soccer team competed in the second game of the day against the Bryn Mawr Owls on Tylus field. This was a must win victory for the Diplomats in order to have a chance at the Centennial Conference playoffs. The fences were lined with posters of the team’s four seniors: Gabby Goowin, Nicolette Runko, Sam Springer, and Hannah Robertson. The seniors had big smiles as their families walked onto the field and gave them flowers, big hugs, and lots of love. Similar to field hockey, the bleachers were filled with family and friends cheering on the Diplomats.
The beginning of the game was action-packed as Franklin & Marshall had three close shots in the first nine minutes of the game. F&M scored the first goal of the game at the 23:04 mark when Emilee Adami knocked in a sweet shot into the left corner of the goal, assisted by Emily Cleary. The remainder of the first half was dominated by Franklin & Marshall as they were able to get eight shots on goal compared to Bryn Mawr’s one. F&M scored its second goal ten minutes into the second half as Meg O’Callahan squeezed in a goal, assisted by Nicolette Runko. Just as Michaela Nicholas capped off the field hockey game with an exciting goal, senior Nicolette Runko scored F&M’s final goal of the game and her ninth goal for the season, assisted by Emily Cleary. While Bryn Mawr was able to get off two shots at the end of the game, they were ultimately wide, securing a Diplomat 3-0 victory.
Both, the field hockey and soccer teams showed high levels of performance and therefore proved Franklin and Marshall’s strength and excellence once again, and provided for some great True Blue experience. This past weekend was a successful Homecoming for the Diplomats as it was filled with great games, wonderful weather, relaxing reunions, and superb support from friends and family.
Sophomore Jamie Belfer is the Sports Editor. Her email is jbelfer@fandm.edu.