PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Shannon Pereira (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Francis Libermann Catholic) had a goal and an assist and
Kyra Castano (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) scored twice in the second half in the Red Flash's 3-1 win over Villanova on Sunday in Philly.
The win evens up the Red Flash's record at 5-5 on the season and snaps a two-game losing streak. The Wildcats fall to 3-8 on the season.
Saint Francis pressured early, earning a trio of penalty corners in the match's opening five minutes. SFU turned those opportunities into three shots, but could not find the net, as
Selena Adamshick (Harveys Lake, Pa./Lake-Lehman)'s shot was knocked away on a defensive save by midfielder Carolyn Clark. Villanova looked to counter and senior goalie
Samantha Zeiders (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) made one of her five saves on the evening to stop the attack. The Flash kept the offensive pressure up, earning another three penalty corners in a five minute span. However, Pereira saw one of her two chances blocked and another sail wide of the goal. SFU kept knocking on the door as
Irene Fritschy (Zwolle, The Netherlands) rang a shot off the post following a penalty corner in the 32nd minute. However, she stuck with the play, and while her second attempt was saved, the rebound went to
Brianna Govia (St. James, Trinidad/Holy Name) who found Pereira for the game's opening goal. It would be 1-0 Saint Francis at the half.
The Red Flash carried the momentum into the second half, earning two more penalty corners in the half's early stages. But Adamshick had a shot blocked and Fritschy was stopped by Erika Miller to keep the match 1-0. Miller made eight saves on the day. In the 47th minute,
Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) had a shot stopped, but she collected the rebound and found
Kyra Castano (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) for her first goal of the season to make it 2-0. Minutes later, Castano struck again, knocking in a Pereira feed in the 54th minute to make it a 3-0 Saint Francis' lead. Villanova would score in the final minute of play, knocking in a rebound to spoil the shutout.
SFU enjoyed a big advantage on the stat sheet, out shooting Villanova 25-8, including a 15-6 edge in shots on goal. The Red Flash also held a big 14-1 edge in penalty corners and will look to carry the momentum into next weekend when UMass comes to town next Sunday for an A-10 match. Face-off is set for 1pm.
