LORETTO, Pa. – On a very busy day for Saint Francis home events, the four-time defending NEC champion swimming team hosts Duquesne tomorrow at noon for its annual Think Pink meet on Homecoming.
 
The Red Flash opened the season with a 141-116 victory at Mount Saint Mary's and will look to continue that success against a team that historically has had success against SFU. The Dukes lead the all-time series, 15-3, but the Flash took last year's matchup, 167-95. Duquesne is 0-2 in the early going of 2013-14, but that includes a one-point loss to Oakland last weekend.
 
"Duquesne is definitely a challenge coming in from a different conference," senior Shelby Murphy (Calgary, Alberta/National Sport School) said. "They're just really fast girls, they train hard and it's always a fight to the finish with them."
 
The greater battle being waged tomorrow rests with the fight against breast cancer. All proceeds raised by the swim team will be donated to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at the Windber Medical Center.  
 
"The girls put a lot of work into the event," SFU head coach Rory Coleman said. "I kind of let them take ownership of it. It's a cause that likely will impact someone at some point in their lives, so them taking ownership in raising some funds and raising awareness about breast cancer is a big thing."
 
The Red Flash, winners of 10 consecutive home meets dating to January 2010, are counting on plenty of support from the university community with the campus bustling with activity from Homecoming festivities. And the swimmers have a personal stake in the outcome of the crowning of Homecoming Queen. Senior Meghan Cotugno (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) is on the court.
 
"I think it's an exciting meet because a lot of students are going to be there," junior Mary Wardle (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon Area) said. "It'll be exciting to be a part of that atmosphere with our supporters cheering us on."
 
The meet against the Dukes begins at noon tomorrow.