FRANKLIN – The Franklin women's lacrosse team opened up Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) play on Wednesday (Apr. 9) night, facing off with the Hanover Panthers at Faught Stadium.
 
The Grizzlies (0-5, 0-1 HCLC) jumped out to an early lead but were done in by a second quarter that saw the Panthers (1-6, 1-1 HCLC) out-score Franklin 5-1 on their way to an 11-6 Hanover win.
 
How it Happened
Abby Moore opened the scoring less than two minutes in and the Grizzlies kept their one-goal lead until Addie Whitman netted her first of the night with 6:33 to go in the first quarter to make it 2-0 Grizzlies. Hanover potted two goals of their own before the end of the first period, but Clare Ecenbarger would put Franklin back in front with a goal two minutes into the second quarter and make it a 3-2 game.
 
But the rest of the first half was all Hanover, with the Panthers scoring five straight goals to close the first half and take a 7-3 lead into the break. Whitman potted two more goals for Franklin in the third quarter and Aubrey Small hit the back of the net in the fourth, but the Grizzlies wouldn't get within four through the second half.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Shot attempts were 24-20 in Hanover's favor while both teams finished with 23 ground balls collected.
-Whitman topped the Grizzlies with a four-point night, adding an assist to her hat trick. She also had team-highs with nine shot attempts and seven shots on goal.
-Moore finished with a goal and an assist, grabbing a team-high four draws and tying for the team lead with four ground balls.
-Maddie Cary scooped up four ground balls and led the Grizzlies with four turnovers caused.
-Catherine Scott stopped a season-high six shots and added four ground balls.
 
Up Next
Franklin hits the road on Saturday (Apr. 12) afternoon, heading to Louisville, Ky. for a meeting with Spalding. The opening draw is set for noon.