BOX SCORE BOX SCORE
LORETTO, Pa. (April 7, 2012) – An impressive second half showing by the Red Flash offense wasn't enough to undo the damage of a lackluster opening half as Sacred Heart prevailed, 14-11, in a fitting Holy Saturday showdown at Saint Francis.
The Pioneers (5-7; 4-2 NEC) took control of the game early on, jumping out to a quick three-goal lead en route to a, 5-1, edge less than halfway through the opening frame.
Danielle Conwell (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) scored at the 16-minute mark to spark a string of three consecutive SFU goals that allowed the Flash began to claw its way back into things. Ninety seconds later Conwell assisted on a score by
Casey Burk (Moorestown, N.J./Delran) and
Kate Simmons (Delran, N.J./Delran) pulled the Saint Francis to within one with her second free position conversion of the day.
Sacred Heart answered by scoring the last three goals of the half to go into the intermission up, 8-4.
Catherine Helming (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) scored twice to open the second half and cut the SFU deficit to two goals, but the Pioneers once again responded with three goals. Two of those came from Aurelie Pluijmaker, who finished the game with four goals.
Helming broke up the SHU run by notching her third goal of the game at the 19:17 mark, which seemed to awaken the Red Flash offense. Samantha Barton, Simmons and Conwell each scored as Saint Francis pulled to within one, 11-10, with just over 12 minutes to play.
Sacred Heart's Kelsey Russo pushed the margin back to two goals a minute later but Simmons netted her fourth of the afternoon to keep the Flash within reach.
However, it was the usual suspects who spoiled the comeback bid for SFU. Puijmakers and Russo each scored their fourth goals of the game at 9:10 and 5:36 to seal the outcome.
Sacred Heart outshot the Flash 29-to-18 on the afternoon, although shots on goal were comparable, with SHU holding a 20-to-18 edge. The Pioneers also dominated off the draw, to the tune of 17-to-7.
Saint Francis (2-11; 0-5 NEC) resumes play on Friday when it visits Bryant for a 7 p.m. contest.
