LORETTO, Pa. – A closely contested non-conference match between the Saint Francis women's soccer team and Cincinnati turned the Bearcats' way with a pair of second-half goals on Friday afternoon at Stokes Soccerplex. Those two goals gave Cincinnati a 2-0 victory.
 
The Red Flash came out in a flurry. Junior Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) gave the Flash its first good opportunity in the seventh minute. After an SFU corner kick, Bross ripped a shot from 20 yards out that was deflected high by the Cincinnati defense. Ten minutes later, Brittany Hasson (Leola, Pa./Warwick)'s run on the right side led to a centering attempt that was blocked out of bounds by the Bearcats' defense. The ensuing corner went back to Kelly Beegle (Bedford, Pa./Bedford), and her pass found Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory), but her header was stopped to keep the game scoreless.
 
Later in the first half, Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) had a centering feed that couldn't be connected, but Casey Gallaher (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) had an opportunity that was saved. The Flash finished the first half leading the shots on goal count, 2-1, and in corner kicks, 3-1.
 
Suler let another one fly just five minutes into the second half, but she had that attempt blocked by the Cincinnati defense. She led the Red Flash with five shots. A minute after that attempt, Abbey Collins (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) kept the game scoreless with a diving save on a point blank attempt from Lizzie Ehrnfelt on the left side. Collins finished the day with seven saves.
 
Cincinnati (4-2-1) finally broke through in the 62nd minute. Jordan Cotleur accepted a pass from Danielle Rotheram down the left side and hit a powerful shot that Collins was able to deflect, but not keep from scoring. In the 70th minute, Rotheram scored her own goal on a floater from inside the box to make it 2-0.
 
Saint Francis will face Cal Santa Barbara on Sunday with a new start time of 11 a.m. The game will be shown live on NEC Front Row.