BOX SCORE LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 2, 2012) – For the third time in as many years, the Saint Francis University women's soccer team is bound for the Northeast Conference Championship match.  The top-seeded Red Flash downed no. 4 seed Sacred Heart, 2-0, at DeGol Field on Friday to earn a berth in the title match in unusually easy fashion.

Given SFU's history in the postseason, 'unusually easy' is simply a regulation contest.

The Red Flash posted its second-ever NEC tournament victory despite advancing in four of its last five league playoff games.  As a result, Saint Francis will meet no. 3 seed LIU Brooklyn in the title bout for the third-straight season.

The Blackbirds upset no. 2 seeded Monmouth, 1-0, in the day's second match.

Newly-reminted three-time NEC Player of the Year Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) loomed large in the day's opener, notching the game's only two goals.

McKibbens' first score came in the 37th minute, after junior midfielder Stephanie Boulter (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville) fed her the ball as McKibben shot a slotted groundball from the left side of the field that landed in the far side of the net.

In the 46th minute, McKibben scored from 10 yards out on a breakaway on the left side to find the back of the goal for the 19th time this season.

Saint Francis goalkeeper Brianna Butcher (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) made two saves during the match, fending off nine Sacred Heart shots. Butcher tied the Saint Francis record for career shutouts with 19. The Pioneers outshot the Red Flash, who notched six.

Sydney Judkins also made two saves for Sacred Heart, while senior forward Ashley Moore and sophomore midfielder Kristen Verette fired three shots apiece in the loss.