Day One Bracket Results    |    Postseason Awards

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (March 23, 2013) – Competing in its first ever Northeast Conference Championship, the Saint Francis U bowling team survived day one to advance to the semifinal match to be held Sunday morning.

In the double elimination style tournament, the Red Flash went 2-1 on Saturday, falling in its third match of the day to Adelphi. Had SFU beaten the Panthers, they would automatically move onto the championship match. In order to attain a rematch with Adelphi in Sunday's championship, the Flash must first get past Kutztown in the semifinals.

No. 5 seeded Saint Francis began its first round of best-of-7 baker competition with No. 4 seed New Jersey City, whom the Flash were 1-4 against on the year. The match remained tightly contested all the way through and needed a game seven to determine a winner. SFU downed the Gothic Knights by 30 pins in that game, 197-167, to move on and face No. 8 seed, and 2012's defending tournament champs, Sacred Heart.

The Red Flash came out of the gate strong with a game one victory, fell slightly in game two, but picked it back up again to earn the 4-1 win over the Pioneers. At this point in the day, SFU was guaranteed a spot to continue playing on Sunday's final day of action. Saint Francis suffered its first loss of the day however, 4-2, to sixth-seeded Adelphi.

"This was a team of 10 clearly in charge of themselves in the morning round of competition," head coach Tom Falbo said. "We planned our day, and executed it well. In the afternoon, we really didn't get comfortable with our look in light of opportunity in the first five games of that match. We're looking forward to championship Sunday to execute to our potential."

Kutztown beat St. Francis Brooklyn, New Jersey City and Sacred Heart and lost to Adelphi on their journey to the semifinal match. SFU is 5-3 versus the Golden Bears this season.

Also on day one of the NEC Championship, the league announced its major award winners, first and second team all-conference representatives and its all-rookie squad. Of the five selected to the all-rookie team, all three Saint Francis U rookie bowlers made the cut, Ashley Howe, Shelby Derr (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) and Sarah Ross (Crescent, Pa./Moon Area).

"I'm proud of these three ladies," Falbo said. "Adjusting to college life, their studies and full competition season is a lot for any student-athlete. Ashley, Sarah and Shelby have adjusted very well to this level and are among the very best freshmen in the country. I congratulate each of them for this special honor."

During the regular season SFU collected a total of seven NEC Rookie of the Week awards and ended the year with a string of five in a row. Howe earned the honor three times while Derr and Ross each received the award twice.

Fairleigh Dickinson senior Danielle McEwan notched her third consecutive NEC Bowler of the Year Award and teammate Rebecca Fischer was named the league's Rookie of the Year. LIU Brooklyn head coach Kayla Jones took home NEC Coach of the Year honors.

Saint Francis squares off against Kutztown in the semifinals Sunday morning at 9:05 a.m. The match can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com.