LEWISBURG, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2015) – Led by a career-high five-goal effort from junior Rebecca Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton), the Saint Francis U women's lacrosse team nearly defeated Bucknell in the 2015 season opener on Wednesday. SFU led at halftime, but fell 13-10 on the road.

The Red Flash fired 20 total shots against the Bison, who were coming off a lopsided 17-2 defeat at the hands of No. 10 Penn State. Bucknell shot the ball 30 times and SFU sophomore goalkeeper Heather McKee (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright Bel Air) tallied 10 saves.

It was Meyer who started the scoring barrage for the Flash, first off a free position attempt about two minutes into play. Blair Rosenberg (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) followed a minute later with a tally, Jessica Fischetti (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) picked up the game's first assist and SFU led 2-0.

The Bison responded with their first goal of the evening at the 25:38 mark of the first half before the scoring halted for nine minutes. It was Meyer again who scored SFU's third goal, this time the assist went to freshman Jessica Mazzur (Dallastown, Pa./York Catholic).

Each team scored again and Meyer tallied her third goal of the game for Saint Francis after a pass from Holly Lawrence (Damascus, Md./Damascus) and it was 4-2 SFU midway through the period. Another nine minute scoring gap ensued and this time Christina Fini (Huntington, N.Y./Smithtown East) fired one past the Bucknell keeper on a free position attempt and the Flash had a three-goal advantage (5-2).

Bucknell was able to narrow the margin to two goals at the halftime break as SFU led 7-5 as the teams took a short break. Meyer scored her fourth before halftime and Sarah Mahon (Malverne, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) scored her first collegiate goal.

Out of the break, the Bison scored three goals to take their first lead at 8-7 with about 24 minutes to play. Fischetti scored an unassisted goal followed by Meyer's fifth tally of the day and SFU retook the lead at the 19:08 mark.

Bucknell went on to score five goals over the final 16 minutes compared to just one for the Flash, which was put in by Fini.

SFU was successful on 14-of-19 clear attempts in the game, but they lost the draw control battle, 18-6. Katie Schaaf (Ellicott City, Md./Hebron) and Sydney Shearer (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown) each recorded a shot on goal. Fini led the Red Flash with three ground balls.

Saint Francis heads south for four games during the school's spring break, the Flash start the trip with a contest at Winthrop on Sunday at 1 p.m.