WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University women's lacrosse team welcomed No. 9 Franklin and Marshall to Carlini Field on Wednesday afternoon. Despite a valiant second-half effort, the Cardinals ultimately fell to the Diplomats by a single goal.

In a rematch of the first-ever game played on Carlini Field, Franklin and Marshall held on to an 11-10 lead. When the two teams christened the new field in March of 2019, it was Meghan McDonogh's team that got the best of the then-No. 2 ranked Diplomats by a single goal in overtime.

After getting out to a slow start, Catholic stormed back in the second half, outscoring Franklin and Marshall 8-4 in the final 30 minutes and 4-0 in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals found themselves down 5-0 after the opening 15 minutes and 6-0 early in the second quarter as Mike Faith's team scored with their first six shots on cage. A Grace Hill tally at the 5:27 mark of the second stanza stopped the bleeding and helped Catholic steady itself. The Cardinals ultimately entered the halftime break down 7-2.

After the intermission, it was all Catholic. The Cardinals put together an inspired effort, largely led by newcomers. Izzy Fiore scored twice while Mia Scarduzio and Lindsay Sawyer both found the net as well. The Scarduzio tally came via a free position shot and marked her first collegiate goal.

After the Diplomats pushed the lead to 9-2 early in the third quarter, a player-down goal from Hill and a free-position conversion from Riley Cherkes keyed a 4-2 Catholic mini-run to end the third period.

Trailing 11-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Cardinals scored three goals in less than two minutes of game time to push within two with nine-and-a-half minutes remaining in the contest. Cherkes' second free-position goal was followed by Scarduzio's tally before Fiore netted her second off of a great solo run.

The score remained 11-9 as the clock ran all the way under 60 seconds. Catholic took advantage of a late Diplomat yellow card to score a women-up goal with just 15 seconds left, giving the Cardinals a sliver of hope.

Jessie Lee won the subsequent draw control and the Cardinals flew into the attacking area but were unable to connect a slicing pass within the eight-meter arch with just a few seconds remaining and time experienced.

The Cardinals held Franklin and Marshall, a team that entered the game averages nearly 14 goals-per-game, to just four goals in the second half and did not allow a goal in the final 15 minutes.

Junior Rachel Rubenstein had another strong game on defense, scooping up five ground balls, winning one draw control and causing one turnover. Freshman Grace Button claimed four ground balls.

The Cardinals will now return their attention to Landmark Conference play. Catholic will welcome Susquehanna to Carlini Field on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day.