WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Nov. 16, 2007) – Saint Francis University's New Zealand natives scored all three goals in a span of 15 minutes to lift the second-seeded Red Flash men's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over No. 3 seed Sacred Heart in a Northeast Conference semifinal match on Friday afternoon at the Great Lawn on the campus of Monmouth University.
Sophomore Daniel Moir (Christchurch, New Zealand/Shirley Boys) (Christchurch, New Zealand / Shirley Boys) scored Saint Francis' first two goals, and freshman Patrick Fleming (Dunedin, New Zealand / Bayfield) put the game on ice with his fifth goal of the season.
Junior goalkeeper Brad Williams (San Lorenzo, CA/Arroyo) (San Lorenzo, Calif. / Arroyo) stopped five shots to set the school record with his eighth shutout of the season. He also tied the school's all-time shutout record, matching former teammate Bobby Pipech with 15 career shutouts.
The Red Flash advance to the NEC Championship match for the second straight season and will face Central Connecticut State, a 1-0 winner over No. 1 seed Monmouth, at Noon on Sunday. SFU defeated the Blue Devils, 1-0, on their own turf on Oct. 19th. Both team's will be seeking their first-ever NEC title and a chance to represent the conference as automatic qualifiers in the NCAA Tournament.
Saint Francis improved to 9-8-2 overall with the win. The Red Flash earned revenge on the Pioneers after dropping a 1-0 contest on Oct. 14, at the Stokes Soccer Complex.
Sacred Heart held a slight advantage, 3-1, in shots in the first 45 minutes, but Saint Francis brought it's “A” game in the second half. Moir tallied his fourth goal of the season at 46 minutes, 49 seconds by putting his shot in the upper-90. Senior defender, and four-time all-NEC second team selection, Jarron Brooks (Mitchellville, Md/Archbrishop ) (Mitchellville, Md. / Archbishop Carroll) received an assist on the play.
Moir would then score his second goal of the game, and fifth of the season, at 58:29 to put the Red Flash up 2-0.
Fleming chipped one in from 15 yards out that put SFU up 3-0 at 61:26.
Both teams registered 11 shots in the game, while the Red Flash held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Matt Jones stopped 11 shots between the pipes for Sacred Heart.
