LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 31, 2010) – The Saint Francis University women's soccer team celebrated its Senior Day with a 3-0 Northeast Conference victory over Wagner on Sunday afternoon at the Stokes Soccer Complex.
The win – in a match that served as the regular-season finale for both squads – put the cap on a historic home season for the Red Flash. For the first time in program history Saint Francis compiled a perfect record at home – 9-0 – en route to its best-ever regular season.
The Flash (14-4-1; 8-2-0 NEC) will enter next weekend's Northeast Conference playoffs as the no. 2 seed – their highest seed ever.
Although SFU's senior class was front and center on Sunday, its newest members carried the day.
Saint Francis established the lead for good in the 12th minute on a goal by freshman Stephanie Boulter (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville). The tally was her second of the season and was assisted by senior Chelsea Traurig (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township).
The Flash would maintain their one-goal advantage through the intermission and nearly 20 minutes into the second half.
Freshman defender Alecia McNiff (Marietta, Pa./Donegal ) (Marietta, Pa./Donegal) notched her first score of the season at the 64:26 mark. Sophomore Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) was awarded the assist after nearly scoring SFU's second goal herself.
A third Red Flash rookie, Codi Bixler (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights), scored the contest's third goal in the 82nd minute. Bixler tapped in the ball after the Wagner keeper bobbled an initial save.
Saint Francis senior goalkeeper Lauren Fearer (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area) made three saves in what was her 10th win and seventh shutout of the year.
The Red Flash will face the no. 3 seed Quinnipiac on Friday in the NEC Semifinal round at Fairleigh Dickinson. Top-seeded Long Island will take on Central Connecticut State that same day. Saint Francis defeated each team in the tournament during the regular season by a combined 7-1 margin.
