LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's soccer team's perfect start in Northeast Conference play came to an end Sunday afternoon against Robert Morris at Stokes Soccerplex, but the Red Flash nearly overcame a three-goal deficit in the final half hour of the match. In the end, the Colonials held on for a 3-2 victory.
Robert Morris wasted no time in taking the lead. Erin Ritzer gave the Colonials a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute on a shot from about 25 yards away. She beat Flash keeper
Romina Kunze (Frankfurt, Germany/Carl-von-Weinberg-Schule) low to the goalie's right.
In the 11th minute,
Casey Gallaher (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) beat a couple defenders along the right side, and her play to
Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) ended up in a deflected shot and a corner kick for the Flash, but nothing came of it. Kunze made a nice play on the defensive side shortly after that. Cassie Raymond tried to chase a ball down in Red Flash territory for the Colonials, but Kunze beat her to it with a sliding stop to prevent an opportunity to make it 2-0.
Robert Morris found that opportunity in the 29th minute, however, when Kristie Hamilton scored on a chip-in to make it 2-0. As the half wound to a close, SFU made several attempts to cut into the deficit. With just under five minutes remaining in the half,
Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) made two defenders miss on a neat individual play that resulted in a corner kick.
Shannon McGinnis (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus)' header attempt on that corner kick missed just wide to keep it 2-0. In the final two minutes, Gallaher had two chances to score, but her first shot sailed high and her second was blocked. Gallaher saw her four-game goal scoring streak come to a close, but her point-scoring streak continued.
After Robert Morris scored in the 60th minute on a rebound to make it 3-0, the Flash picked up steam. Gallaher weaved her way through the Colonials' defense in the 70th minute, and she found LaDuke on the left side. Her shot beat RMU keeper Chelsea de Jager to make it 3-1. With that assist, Gallaher has recorded a point in each of the Flash's last five games. LaDuke's goal is her third of the season, tying her for second on the team in goals.
The Flash continued to pressure into the final minutes.
Hallie Rexer (Mountain Top, Pa./Holy Redeemer) deked a defender in the 80th minute to free herself for a shot, but de Jager made the stop to keep it as a two-goal deficit. Rexer earned some revenge later, though. After a foul on Robert Morris in the box gave the Flash a penalty kick, Rexer beat de Jager to make it 3-2 Robert Morris. That was Rexer's first score of the year.
Saint Francis outshot Robert Morris, 21-16, and held the advantage in corner kicks, 5-3. LaDuke led the Red Flash with five shots.
SFU hits the road for a pair of crucial NEC matches next weekend. First up is a match at Wagner on Friday night followed by a trip to Central Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.
