LORETTO, Pa. (August 13, 2013) – Seniors Alecia McNiff (Marietta, Pa./Donegal ), Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) and Laura Stayrook (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) will serve as Saint Francis University's women's soccer captains in 2013.  McNiff and Stayrook take on their formal leadership roles for the first time this fall, while McKibben enters her second season as a captain.

In 2012, McNiff and Stayrook anchored a defense that emerged from the shadow of The Red Flash's high-flying offense and ranked among the nation's best in several categories.  Stayrook started 20 of 21 matches for SFU a season ago and, along with McNiff, made up two-thirds of a backline that surrendered only four goals in 12 matches against Northeast Conference opponents.

McNiff reprised her duties a shutdown defender in 2012 as she helped Saint Francis to a league best nine shutouts. The NSCAA All-Region selection was named NEC Defender of the Week a career-best three times last year while working to nail down her third All-NEC designation and second straight NEC Defensive Player of the Year award.

The first three-time Player of the Year in NEC history, McKibben ranked second in the country in points (49) and fifth in goals (19) in 2012. She racked up eight game-winners while dishing out 13 assists in 21 games for the NEC regular season champion Red Flash. A strong All-America contender, she enters 2013 as the top active point-scorer in NCAA Division I women's soccer.

SFU opens its season on August 23rd with a 7 p.m. contest at Duquesne.