LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's soccer team opens the 2015 season this weekend in the Steel City Classic, hosted by Duquesne University. First up for the Red Flash is Pittsburgh on Friday at 5 p.m. SFU plays Duquesne on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
 
CAMP A SUCCESS
Saint Francis finished its preseason training this week in anticipation of the start of the 2015 regular season. After last season's berth in the NEC tournament, the team's fifth consecutive postseason trip, the Red Flash was happy with the way its camp progressed through August.
 
"Camp's been good so far," head coach Brenda van Stralen said. "They've been working really hard. They've been working on the system of play and how we want them to play as a team."
 
"It's been great to be back," team captain and senior defender Kelly Beegle (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) said. "The team has really been making progress. We definitely have some strengths and some weaknesses but we are continuing to work hard."
 
ROAD WARRIORS
The Red Flash opens the 2015 season with four consecutive road games as the team travels to Chicago for two games next weekend after this weekend's action in Pittsburgh. It's a rare occasion for the Red Flash to open the season on such a long road trip. In the 30 years of Saint Francis women's soccer, it's just the third time that the Flash has opened the year with four road games, joining the 1988 and 2004 teams.
 
"It'll be nice for the team to get away and build some team chemistry," Beegle said. "Just to be a team away on the road together, it'll be a good chance for us to see what we can do."
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Four western Pennsylvania teams will compete over the weekend at Duquesne's Rooney Field.
 
Friday
Red Flash vs. Pittsburgh at 5 p.m.
Duquesne vs. Robert Morris @ 7:30 p.m.
 
Sunday
Pittsburgh vs. Robert Morris @ 1 p.m.
Red Flash vs. Duquesne @ 3:30 p.m.