SMITHFIELD, R.I. (Oct. 3, 2010) –Senior co-captain Tyler Hibbs (St. Catherine, Canada/Governor Simcoe) (St. Catherine, Canada / Governor Simcoe) had a goal and assist, and sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Valcicak (Herndon, Va./Gonzaga College) (Herndon, Va. / Gonzaga College) stopped five shots, to lead the Saint Francis men's soccer team to a Northeast Conference-opening 4-0 victory at Bryant on Sunday afternoon.

Hibbs was one of four different goal scorers for the Red Flash, who improved to 5-3 on the season. SFU will return to action with two crucial Northeast Conference matches next weekend. Quinnipiac will visit at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, and Central Connecticut State will travel to Loretto for a 1 p.m. Sunday contest.

“The guys were great today with a shutout and goals from four different players,” said Saint Francis head coach Michael Casper. “Daniel Valcicak (Herndon, Va./Gonzaga College) was big in the goal with a penalty save and we were relentless today in our attack. It's a great start in conference and now we have to keep working and getting better for next weekend.”

Junior Kingsley McLeod (Rocky Mount, N.C./Rocky Mount) (Rocky Mount, N.C. / Rocky Mount), junior Sean O'Reilly (Front Royal,Va./Seton) (Front Royal, Va. / Seton) and sophomore Seamus Ryder (Dunedin, New Zealand / Otago Boys) also scored goals for the Red Flash. In addition to Hibbs' assist, sophomore Makala Hairston (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall College) (Baltimore, Md. / Calvert Hall College), sophomore Wayne Tiller (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) (Magnolia, Del. / Caesar Rodney), freshman Nick Kolarac (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) (Pittsburgh, Pa. / West Allegheny), senior Owen Gombami (Pumula North Bulawayo, Simbabwe/Mzilikazi) (Pumula North Bulawayo, Zimbabwe / Mzilikazi) and junior Taylor Powers (Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande) (Petaluma, Calif. / Casa Grande) also picked up points with helpers in the game.

Hibbs opened the game's scoring with a rebound of a Hairston shot into the top right corner at 21 minutes, 40 seconds.

The game went to overtime with SFU leading 1-0, but the Red Flash came out with some fire power. McLeod made it 2-0 with his second goal of the year, a header off of a cross from Tiller. Kolarac also received an assist on the goal at 46:41.

It was just 20 seconds later that the Bulldogs were granted a golden opportunity to cut the deficit. However, Valcicak came up big with a save of Erik Lekstrom's penalty shot at 47:01.

Hibbs fed O'Reilly, who netted his third goal of the season at 64:20 to put the game out of reach. Powers and Gombami fed Ryder for his first goal of the year at 80:40.

Valcicak recorded his third shutout of the season, and improved to 4-2 as a starter.

The Red Flash held a 19-14 advantage in shots, and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Bryant was whistled for 17 fouls, while SFU was called for 12. Both teams were called for one offside each.

For periodic men's soccer updates and other Red Flash news, follow Director of Athletic Communications Bob Volkert on Twitter at SFUVolkert.

Game Notes: Saint Francis improved to 5-3, the program's best start after eight games; SFU now has 20 goals in eight games, eclipsing last year's total of 17 goals in 19 games. The 20 goals in eight games is the second-most in program history (25 in 1986); The Red Flash have scored 13 goals in their last four games, and have a 3-1 record during that span; the Red Flash have scored 14 second half goals in eight games this season after scoring seven in 19 games in all of 2009; senior Patrick Fleming (Dunedin, New Zealand/Bayfield) has tied a career high with 13 points (4 g, 5 a). He had 5 goals, 3 assists and 13 points as a freshman in 2007; sophomore Wayne Tiller (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) has a career high 7 points on the year. His 3 goals and 7 points eclipse his 2 goals and 5 points from 2009; senior Owen Gombami (Pumula North Bulawayo, Simbabwe/Mzilikazi) has a career high 3 assists and 7 points in a Red Flash uniform (had 3 goals and 8 points while playing for Lee University as a freshman); junior Sean O'Reilly (Front Royal,Va./Seton) has a career high 3 goals and 6 points; senior Tyler Hibbs (St. Catherine, Canada/Governor Simcoe) has career highs with 2 goals and 6 points, and has tied his career high with 2 assists; junior Kingsley McLeod (Rocky Mount, N.C./Rocky Mount) has tied his career highs with 2 goals, 1 assist and 5 points; sophomore Seamus Ryder has career highs with 2 assists and 4 points and tied his career high with 1 goal.