LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 20, 2009) – Senior defender Brittany Valentine (Hudson, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit/) (Hudson, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) scored her first career goal to lead the Saint Francis women's soccer team past Howard 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Stokes Soccer Complex in Loretto.

Senior goalkeeper Jessica Boyer (Pittsburgh, Pa/Mount Lebanon) (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) made four stops to earn her 12th career shut out.

The Red Flash kept the ball down in front of the Bison net for most of the first half, but couldn't find their way past Howard keeper Chanel Bell.  SFU outshot Howard 8-4 in the first half.

Halfway through the second half, sophomore midfielder Traci Flick (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) took the ball up the left side and sent over a cross pass in front of the net.  The pass deflected off junior midfielder Haleigh Dunyon (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson) (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach) and over to Valentine.  Valentine sent it in from about five yards out to put the Red Flash up 1-0.

The Bison had five shot attempts in the second half, but couldn't put one on net.  Saint Francis had nine shots, and took the 1-0 shut out victory.

“We'll take the win,” said head coach Brenda van Stralen.  “It was a good job of Brittany to see the opportunity to score.  Now, we need to prepare for conference season.”

Senior forward Rachel Seibert (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) led the Red Flash with eight shots, while Flick had four shots and Grenninger made two attempts.

SFU outshot the Bison 17-9 in the game.  Howard was led by Retha Koefoed, who had five shots. 

Bell had nine saves for the Bison.

The Red Flash will host Robert Morris at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Stokes Soccer Complex in their first Northeast Conference match up.