Women's Soccer 10/26/2008 1:01:59 PM

Vespa's Big Day Leads Red Flash Past Wagner

LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 26, 2008) – Senior captain Alanna Vespa (Ancaster, Ontario/Saint Mary’s Catholic) (Ancaster, Ontario/Saint Mary's Catholic) had a goal and 2 assists to lead the Saint Francis women's soccer team past Wagner College 3-0 in her last game in Loretto.

Vespa and fellow seniors Marina Accordo (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton), Jennilee Morrison (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette) (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette) and Natalie Santoleri (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) were honored prior to the game for the dedication and hard work they haven given for the past four years.

“We played a great game today,” said head coach Brenda van Stralen. “But our seniors played particularly well. All of them were just phenomenal. We are lucky to have had them for the past four years and will miss them.”

The Red Flash dominated the Seahawks from the start, but couldn't find the back of the net until the first half nearly came to a close. Vespa sent a corner kick over to Chelsea Traurig (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) who put the ball in the back of the net to make the score 1-0 41:16 in to the first half.

Truarig's goal sparked a flurry of goals from the Red Flash, with their next tally coming less than a minute later. Rachael Seibert (Murrysville, Pa/Franklin Regional) (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) took a pass from Vespa at midfield and took it up the field on a breakaway. With two defenders trailing her, she sent the ball past Seahawks goalkeeper Sam Schuesner to put the Flash up 2-0 with three minutes to play in the half. Seibert, who already leads the team in goals, now has 8 on the season.

Though the clock was dwindling down, the Red Flash weren't done scoring. Seibert snagged a rebound in front of the net and flipped it over to Vespa. Vespa then knocked it in from 5 yards out to put the Flash ahead 3-0 with 2 minutes left to play in the first half. She now has a team-leading 20 points this season.

Red Flash goalkeeper Jessica Boyer (Pittsburgh, Pa/Mount Lebanon) (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) had 1 save to earn the win before being replaced by sophomore Lauren Fearer (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) in the second half. Fearer did not face a shot as the Flash out shot the Seahawks 25-3. Wagner had one shot on goal, while SFU had 14. Shuesner had 10 saves for the Seahawks.

The Flash will travel to New Jersey to take on Fairleigh Dickinson at 3 P.M. on October 31 in Teaneck. They will continue on to Fairfield, Conn., where they will play Sacred Heart on Nov. 2 at noon to finish up the regular season.

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