BOX SCORE LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 7, 2012) – Looking to stretch its unbeaten streak to 10 games, the Saint Francis University men's soccer team got just enough to push them past Howard 1-0 Friday afternoon at the Stokes Soccerplex.
 
“It's been a good stretch for the guys,” head coach Michael Casper said. “We've been able to focus on our defending and score us a couple goals to give us some victories. We knew coming into this game that we wanted to keep a clean sheet and we were also hoping to score a couple goals.”
 
The Red Flash (2-0-2) controlled possession of the ball for most of the contest, applying heavy offensive pressure against the Bison (0-6-0) all game long. SFU registered eight shots before senior Makala Hairston (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall College) found the back of the net 24 minutes into the first half. Hairston fought his way to the ball and ripped a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that sailed past Howard's keeper inside the far back post. The lone goal of the match is Hairston's first of the season.
 
Defensively the Flash held the Bison to just one shot in period one. SFU continued to pressure in Howard's end the remainder of the period and carried that momentum into the second half. All-in-all the Red Flash took 26 shots in the game, 11 of which were on target while the Bison recorded just three total. The team's leading goal scorer Nick Kolarac (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) came away with the most chances, registering seven total shots.
 
Starting keeper Daniel Valcicak (Herndon, Va./Gonzaga College) saw limited action in the match but made the saves when he needed to, preserving the shutout win.
 
Saint Francis returns to the Stokes Soccerplex this Sunday Sept. 9 for a non-conference game against Bucknell at 4 p.m.