BOX SCORE

LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 30, 2011) – Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) scored a pair of goals, Barbara Maros de Carvalho (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Sagrado Coraco de Jesus) posted an assist and the defense pitched a shutout.  In other words, it was shades of 2010 on Friday afternoon as the Saint Francis University women's soccer team defeated Sacred Heart, 2-0, at the Stokes Soccerplex.

The win was the second for the Red Flash in as many seasons after going 0-8-3 against the Pioneers in the series' first 11 meetings.

“It's good to see that our game is beginning to become more complete,” said SFU head coach Brenda van Stralen.  “We have players that are starting to step up for us and you saw that today because we worked hard for our two goals.  This was a good win for us.”

Sacred Heart outshot the Flash 14-to-7 but Saint Francis hung its hat on an efficient effort led by McKibben.

The reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Year tallied her first score of the day by launching a shot from 25 yards out and into the upper right corner of the net.  The goal – her sixth of the year – broke a scoreless tie in 26th minute.

After the intermission, a streaking Barb Maros de Carvalho dished out a long cross from the right side, hitting McKibben in stride.  McKibben, in turn, drove the ball in from 10 yards out with just under 10 minutes gone in the second half.

The Pioneers mounted a frenetic offensive in the waning minutes – including five shots in the final 15 – but could not break through.

With the win, Saint Francis improves to 6-4-0 overall and 2-0 in NEC play.  Sacred Heart, which entered as the league's early frontrunner, fell to 5-3-3 and 1-1-1 in the NEC.

The Flash returns to action on Sunday when it travels to Penn for a 1 p.m. match.