LORETTO, Pa.- The Red Flash nearly came back from a pair of two-goal deficits in a 3-2 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers at a cold, rainy, windy Stokes SoccerPlex on Saturday.

Saint Francis started pressuring early, getting a pair of shots on goal in the first five minutes. With winds gusting north of 20 miles an hour, both teams were firing shots on goal at will. Both teams were trying to get passes in deep, only to see them drift off course. The Red Flash pressured midway through the half, but a good chance from Pablo Medina (Monterrey, Mexico/IMG Academies) was blocked down by the Mountaineer defense and SFU could not do much with a pair of ensuing corner kicks. West Virginia scored with just 11 seconds remaining in the half on a highlight reel goal. Jamie Merriam volleyed a ball off a throw-in from about 30 yards out into the upper 90 of the net. WVU would lead 1-0 at the half, despite the Red Flash providing most of the first half pressure.

The Mountaineers came out pressuring in the second half. A shot from Joey Piatczyc hit the underside of the crossbar just four minutes into the half. The shot somehow stayed out of the net but the rebound came right to Jad Arslan of WVU who put a diving header into the net to make it 2-0 WVU. The Red Flash withstood another WVU push and began to counter. Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere) played a long ball that was saved off the back line by Nicco Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township), he found Andres Vega (Managua, Nicaragua/Colegio Centro America) to found the back of the net. Vega had just checked into the game minutes earlier and made it 2-1 in the 71st minute.

Minutes later, WVU added an insurance goal. Off a corner kick, de Vries' clear was knocked down and Tucker Stephenson somehow snaked a shot through traffic and into the low left side. Things began to get a bit chippy after the third Mountaineer goal, with each team picking up a yellow card and three total being issued on the match. Down two, the Red Flash pushed hard offensively. It paid off as Alec Boerner, the WVU keeper was late to react to a pass and was whistled for a foul in the goal box. de Vries took the penalty kick, and buried it into the left side to make it 3-2. A late WVU foul gave the Flash a final set piece, but could not find the equalizer.

West Virginia out shot the Red Flash 15-10 on the game, but Saint Francis owned a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. WVU also owned a slight 7-5 edge on corner kicks.

Andrew Garcia (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) made two saves in the loss as the Red Flash close out non-conference play at 5-3-3 and now sit at 4-1-1 at home. The Flash welcome in Sacred Heart next Sunday to open Northeast Conference play. Kick-off is set for 3pm.