LANCASTER, PA. – A goal in the final minutes of the fourth period proved to be the heartbreaker as the No. 20 Ursinus Field Hockey team fell to Franklin & Marshall 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Bears fell to 3-4 overall and start Centennial Conference action 0-1, meanwhile the Diplomats improve to 4-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference action.
 
Franklin & Marshall opened the contest with two good scoring chances in the first six minutes of action, but senior goalkeeper Jordan Ulsh turned both aside. After being awarded a penalty corner late in the first period, Laura Rothschild found Jordan Moore at the top of the circle, but the Bears opportunity was denied by Diplomats' goalie Sydney Lippe.
 
The Bears opened the second period with an opportunity to break the scoreless tie, but sophomore Maeve Montgomery's shot was blocked by the Diplomats defense. Franklin & Marshall followed with a counterattack firing off three shots over the next two minutes, but a save from Ulsh and a block by the defense kept the score tied heading into halftime.
 
The Diplomats continued the pressure in the third quarter earning the first two opportunities, but each was denied by Ulsh in goal. Ursinus was awarded a penalty corner in the final minute of the quarter as Moore's shot beat the goalkeeper, but Franklin and Marshall's Katie Roper stopped the shot from the cage, earning a defensive save and keeping the score tied.
 
Each team traded shots to open the final stanza but both defenses stood tall blocking each opportunity. Ulsh earned two more saves in the 54^th minute after a penalty corner opportunity for the Diplomats almost broke the scoreless tie. Moments later, F&M's Darby Kloop scored her first goal of the season as her shot slipped by the Bears defense and into the cage. The Bears had one last opportunity in the 58^th minute as Moore found space in the circle, but her shot missed wide to give the Diplomats the victory.
 
Franklin & Marshall held a 15-9 advantage in shots and a 10-3 edge in shots on goal. The Diplomats also held a slight 7-5 edge in penalty corners. Ulsh registered nine saves in a valiant effort in the cage for the Bears despite the loss. Sydney Lippe earned the win for the Diplomats after making two saves in the full 60 minutes.
 
The Bears will look to bounce back as they return to action on Wednesday as they host Messiah University from Snell Field at 7pm.