Flash Points: 

• Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) converted a penalty kick after Abigail Tarosky (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin) earned the penalty
• Leah Hardin (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) netted the game winner nine minutes later
• Julia Hernan (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) made four saves in the win

LORETTO, PA-  Leah Hardin (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) finished off a Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) crossing pass nine minutes after Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) converted a penalty kick and SFU women's soccer clinched a spot in the NEC tournament with a 2-1 win over Central Connecticut State on Friday. 

The Red Flash answered with two goals in a 10-minute span to answer an early Blue Devil goal. 

"I loved the way we responded today," coach Brenda van Stralen said. "We came back strong and built some momentum that we were able to sustain."

Central Connecticut came out as the aggressor firing a shot wide before Carla Jackson scored in the fifth minute. Jackson took control of the ball near midfield on the near side and went on a strong run into the goal box, found space and scored into the low left-hand corner to give CCSU an early lead. 

The Flash responded ten minutes later as Abigail Tarosky (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin) made a strong move into the box and drew a foul, resulting in a penalty shot. SFU gained the chance off strong midfield play as they won possession off a CCSU goal kick. Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) cashed in the penalty kick with a shot to the left side to tie the match at one. Morales and the Red Flash kept attacking, as the junior was denied on a good save from keepr Nicki Turley and missed high on another shot. 

SFU took the lead for good thanks in part to the aggressiveness of Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle). The freshman made a strong move on the far side of the box and stuck with the play after her initial shot was blocked. The Altoona native swung a beautiful cross over to Leah Hardin (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) who buried it into the top right corner in the 25th minute. Neither team would threaten much in the final minutes of the half with the best chance belonging to Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) who missed just wide with a shot from 20 yards out. SFU would take a 2-1 lead into the half. 

In the second half, Saint Francis bottled up the Central Connecticut attack, controlling possession for much of the half. SFU picked their spots to attack and out shot the Blue Devils 5-2. Jessica Keller (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) nearly made it a 3-1 contest in the 61st minute as her shot was nearly tipped in by McGhee but a sprawling Turley beat the freshman to the ball for the save. Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) and McGhee each missed high on chances later in the half. With CCSU looking for the equalizer, their best chance came in the 71st minute with Hernan making a save on a shot from distance by Carla Jackson. 

The win secures a spot in the NEC playoffs for the Red Flash as both CCSU and SFU sit at 5-2 in conference play. The seeding is still to be determined and will sort itself out on the final day of the regular season on Sunday. The Flash welcome in Wagner for the finale for a noon kickoff on senior day. The team will honor seniors Casey Gallaher (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) and Abbey Collins (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) in a pre-match ceremony. The match will also be aired on NEC Front Row.