CLINTON, S.C. (March 5, 2010) – Sophomore Kate Simmons (Delran, N.J./Delran) (Delran, N.J./Delran) netted four goals to lead the Saint Francis lacrosse team past Presbyterian College 13-10 for their second consecutive victory on Friday afternoon in Clinton, S.C.

The win marks the first time in school history that the team has had consecutive wins. 

Shannon Hartford started the scoring off for the Blue Hose off of a successful clear just over two minutes into action.  The next clear failed, with Catherine Helming (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) grabbing the ground ball.  Brittany Kovacs (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin CVI) the tallied SFU's first goal of the game to tie the score at 1-1. 

PC's Brittni Dulaney and Kovacs traded goals within the next few minutes, keeping the score tied at 2-2 after just five minutes of play.  Simmons notched the go-ahead goal off of a free-position shot with 22:23 remaining in the first half, with Katie Jenkins (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) adding in two goals, one off of a free-position shot to make it 5-2 in favor of the Red Flash.

Jenkins then went on to set up the next play, sending the ball over to Chelsea Kent (Winter Spring, Fla./Winter Spring) (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs), who knocked one past PC's Susan England to put SFU up 6-2 with 16:16 left in the first half.  

Dulaney then set up a play of her own for the Blue Hose, sending a pass over to Jenna Handshoe, who scored on SFU's Danielle Pokusa (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) to shrink the deficit to three.  Samantha DiCasteluovo (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) picked up a ground ball off of a PC shot attempt and cleared it successfully.  Fellow freshman Stephanie Toomey (East Rochester, N.Y./East Rochester) scored on the ensuing possession, putting the Red Flash ahead by four.

Handshoe and Kent then traded goals for their respective teams as SFU took an 8-4 lead at the end of the half. 

Simmons started the second half scoring just 50 seconds into action after Helming controlled the draw.  The Blue Hose battled back with a goal from Kristin Steinoien, making the score 9-5 in favor of the Red Flash.  A draw control by Simmons allowed Kent to knock in her third of the game, putting SFU in the double-digits at 10-5.  PC's Liz Davis netted the Blue Hose's sixth goal of the game soon after.

Simmons battled back with another tally, and then sent a pass over to Jenkins, who notched another goal for the Red Flash, who led 12-6 with 14:43 remaining in the game.  Stenoien scored her second of the game off of a feed from Handshoe to bring the Blue Hose within five.

Pokusa stopped Laure Meade's free-position attempt, but PC's Katie Prisco grabbed the ground ball and sent it in as the Blue Hose continued to cut the deficit.  Dulaney then scored Presbyterian's third and fourth straight goals, cutting SFU's lead down to 13-10 with just under two minutes to go.  However, the Red Flash stayed strong and took the 13-10 victory. 

“I'm extremely happy with the team effort today,” said head coach Steph Marcon.  “Katie Jenkins (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) did an awesome job on attack, as did Danielle Pokusa (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) in the cage.  I think our midfield, particular Kate Simmons (Delran, N.J./Delran), Alexa Joanow (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick) and Catherine Helming (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua), did a great job of getting the ball up the field to the attack.  Overall, it was a great game and I'm very pleased.”

Jenkins led the attack with 10 shots, eight of which came on goal.  Joanow had a career-high seven ground balls with fellow rookie Toomey right behind her with six.   DiCastelnuovo also grabbed seven ground balls and caused two turnovers, while Simmons led the way on draw controls with six. 

Pokusa ended the day with 17 saves for the Red Flash, who outshot the Blue Hose 37-32. 

SFU will continue on to North Carolina, where they will take on Davidson on Sunday at 1 p.m.