Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- No. 16 Stevenson concluded a busy two-day stretch of the Mustang Classic with a 16-12 setback to No. 8 Franklin & Marshall on Saturday night.
A decisive six-goal run that spanned the tail end of the third quarter and most of the fourth allowed Franklin & Marshall (7-1) to battle back and build its lead back after trailing for large chunks of the contest. James Maroney and Kai Kelly led the Diplomats with four goals each, while A.J. Rigsby posted seven points on three goals and four assists.
Stevenson (3-3) was paced by Mitchell Lachman's four points with Ryan Coleman added two goals and two assists. Marc Poust racked up 13 saves in the game of scoring runs throughout. The Mustangs led 12-10 just over five minutes into the third before F&M took control for a bounce-back victory.
The Mustangs clung to a 9-8 lead with the clock ticking down the three-minute mark of the opening half.
Despite having an early goal wiped out on a push in the crease area, the Mustangs stayed the course and posted a strong start. Jack Scaliti, Griffin Gast and Ryan Coleman accounted for the initial three goals of the contest to vault Stevenson ahead about 10 minutes in. F&M responded with five unanswered tallies to cap the scoring in the opening quarter.
Stevenson and F&M continued trading runs as the second quarter melted away. Josh Brannan had a goal sandwiched between a pair of chances from Mitchell Lachman that found the back of the net.
Leading 9-7, Stevenson surrendered a pair of goals as the Diplomats had another answer. Cam Leydig ripped home a chance from Scaliti at the 1:40 mark to push the Mustangs in front following an entertaining opening half.
The Mustangs made the most of the man-up chance at the onset of the second half with Lachman finishing a pass from Coleman at 13:12. The Mustangs continued to hold the advantage in shots, stretching their lead to a pair of goals on Coleman's second of the night at 9:44 in the third.
Both sides clamped down on the defensive end as Poust made some key stops for the Mustangs along with his counterpart Sage Gariito. A.J. Rigsby continued his big day with his third goal of the night, trimming the Diplomat deficit to 12-11 heading into the fourth.
F&M evened the score after pouncing on a rebound chance in front at 13:24 in the fourth quarter. Poust turned aside multiple chances on the ensuing F&M possession as the Diplomats grabbed back the momentum. Kai Kelly ripped the third unanswered marker for the Diplomats as the visitors regained the lead for the first time since midway through the second.
Poust kept the Mustangs within striking distance with two more timely stops coming off sloppy play before the Diplomats rang a chance off the crossbar at 8:08. F&M continued pressing forward, finishing off a slick cross-crease feed at 7:25. F&M tacked on two more from there to account for the final 16-12 margin.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson hits the road for an NCAA Tournament rematch against Kean on Saturday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.
