BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Jan. 21, 2012) – The Saint Francis University bowling team compiled a 4-1 record on the first day of the New Year Knockdown, hosted by St. Francis College.

"Today was a day where we matured as a team and showed great scoring strength,” head coach Tom Falbo said. “Their ability for each player to step up and focus on repeating great shots compliments their physical talent. They played with such confidence today. I'm proud of them all. We'll come in ready to go tomorrow."

Saturday's first round traditional game format gave the Red Flash a chance to place themselves highly on the leaderboard. The first match of the day was strong for SFU as they totaled a pinfall of 1,001 but fell to Maryland Eastern Shore by 87 pins in the opening match.

Things would improve for the Flash though as they went unbeaten in its next three matches, taking down Northeast Conference foe LIU Brooklyn, Delaware State and Hampton. Host school St. Francis (N.Y.) got the better of the Flash in the final game of the day but Saint Francis sits in fourth in the eight-team field with a total pinfall of 4,900 in Saturday's round of action. No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson leads all teams as they bowled a team total score of 5,138 after day one.

In the field of 50 bowlers, freshman Lauren Johnson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) earned all-tournament honors as she ranked in the top five of all competitors in terms of total pinfall. Johnson registered a 1,062 total pinfall for day one, throwing an impressive 257 in the third game of the day for an average of 212.4 for all five games.

"Lauren's consistency at her release point was her key,” Falbo said. “With it she was able to change balls early in the set that fits so well for her game and the changing oil conditions. She was relaxed, focused and strong all day."

The next highest ranking Flash to throw in all five games was fellow classmate Christina Leid (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata), who averaged 202.8 on day one and recorded her best game of the day, a 222, in the first match of the afternoon against Maryland Eastern Shore.

Saint Francis wraps up its stay at the New Year Knockdown tomorrow for the final round in Brooklyn, which starts with two quad-baker matches to determine the final total pinfall seeding. From there, three rounds of championship bracket play will follow.