FRANKLIN – The Franklin women's soccer team faced another tough test on Saturday afternoon when they welcomed the Manchester Spartans to the Mickel-Hoover Tennis Complex for a big conference showdown.

The Grizzlies (7-1, 3-0 HCAC) remained perfect in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play, picking up a hard-fought 7-2 win and handing the Spartans (3-3, 3-1) their first conference loss.

Franklin got on the board in doubles play thanks to an 8-4 win from Holyn Eldridge and Alexa Schofner at No. 2 doubles. The Grizzlies would take the lead into singles action following a 9-7 win by Megan Battles and Lilly Bushong at the No. 3 doubles spot. Manchester earned their first point when Erin Cordill and Mariam Ali handed FC's top tandem of Karen Dringenburg and Rachel Rose their first loss of the fall, 9-7.

In singles play, the Grizzlies broke away from the Spartans, taking five of the six singles matches. Eldridge was a 6-2, 6-3 winner at the No. 2 spot while Rose grabbed a 6-0, 6-3 win in the three position. Schofner engaged in a battle with Katie Peden at the No. 4 spot but ultimately walked away with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 win.

Battles was a 6-4, 6-1 winner in the five spot and Bushong finished things off with a 6-3, 7-5 win in No. 6 singles play.

The Grizzlies won't have any time to rest before their next match as they head south for another HCAC showdown with Transylvania. First serve is set for noon.