HAMDEN, Conn. (March 25, 2011) – The Saint Francis University lacrosse team saw its three-game winning streak come to an end as it dropped its Northeast Conference opener, 17-10, at Quinnipiac on Friday afternoon.

Despite the setback, the seven-goal margin represented the narrowest defeat at the hands of the Bobcats in program history.

The Red Flash led by as many as two goals (3-1) early on and prevented the Bobcats from taking the lead until the 18:34 mark of the first half when a Devon Gibney score put Quinnipiac up 5-4. Quinnipiac scored six of the game's next seven goals to go into the intermission up, 11-5.

Saint Francis found itself down by as many as 10 goals (16-6) less than nine minutes into the second half, but were able to string together four straight tallies late in the game before the clock ran out on hopes of a comeback.

Kate Simmons (Delran, N.J./Delran) and Catherine Helming (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) each scored a team-high three goals in the contest, while Danielle Conwell (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) chipped in two.

Lianne Toomey led Quinnipiac with four goals.

The Bobcats outshot the Flash 36-to-30 on the afternoon and held a 15-to-14 edge in ground balls.

Senior goalie Danielle Pokusa (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) made nine stops while her counterpart, Noelle Mertello, racked up 11 saves.

Saint Francis (3-5; 0-1 NEC) returns to action on Sunday when it visits Sacred Heart for a 1 p.m. game.