LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 4, 2009) -
Rachael Seibert (Murrysville, Pa/Franklin Regional)'s (Murrysville, Pa/Franklin Regional) fifth goal of the season wasn't enough for the win as the Saint Francis women's soccer team suffered its first Northeast Conference loss at the hands of the Sacred Heart Pioneers by a score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Stokes Soccer Complex in Loretto.
The Red Flash are now 5-4-2 on the season, and fall to 2-1 in the NEC.
SFU was forced to play a strong defensive game for most of the first half. Just under seven minutes into the game, SHU's Jen Mulvey sent a pass over to Samantha Kee, who beat goalkeeper
Lauren Fearer (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) to put the Pioneers up 1-0.
The Red Flash had a tough time getting through the Sacred Heart defense, and one put up two shots in the first half.
They were able to step up their offense in the second half. With less than 20 minutes to go in regulation,
Alyssa Kersey (Clay, N.Y/Cicero-North Syracuse) (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) sent a corner kick in front of the net. In a cluster of players in front of the net, Seibert was able to net her team-leading fifth goal of the season to tie the score 1-1.
Both teams picked up the pace as they tried to break the tie before the end of regulation. Though the Red Flash got five shots off, it was the Pioneers who got the game winner. After a throw in, Kee sent a cross over to Ashley Testani. Testani put the ball through traffic and into the net to give Sacred Heart a 2-1 in over the Red Flash.
Frearer made eight saves for SFU as the Flash were out shot 14-7 by the Pioneers.
Brittni Grenninger (Chicora, Pa/Karns City ) (Chicora, Pa./Kairns City) led the team with two shots, but it was Seibert who got the lone goal. Seibert and four other players were tied with one shot apiece.
The Red Flash will travel to New York for a match up with Wagner on Friday in Staten Island. The will continue on to Brooklyn for a game with Long Island on Sunday.
