Flash Points: 

• Saint Francis hosts the NEC Tournament for the fourth time in six seasons
• This is the seventh straight NEC playoffs for SFU
• SFU has won the tournament two of the previous three times hosting

LORETTO, PA-  Saint Francis women's soccer is set to host the Northeast Conference tournament and opens tournament play against FDU on Friday at 2 p.m. 

TOURNAMENT OUTLINE

- Our teams: 

#1 Saint Francis U Red Flash (8-11 overall, 6-2 NEC)

#2 Central Connecticut Blue Devils (8-10-1 overall, 6-2 NEC)

#3 Sacred Heart Pioneers (8-5-5 overall, 5-1-2 NEC)

#4 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (7-11-1 overall, 5-2-1 NEC)

First Semi Final

#2 Central Connecticut Vs #3 Sacred Heart 11AM

• CCSU won 2-0 at CCSU on October 16

Second Semi-Final

#1 Saint Francis Vs #4 Fairleigh Dickinson-2PM

• FDU won 3-2 (2OT) at FDU on October 2
• Third straight season FDU and SFU have met in the tournament,
• FDU has won both previous meetings , 3-1 in 2014 and 7-4 in 2015

Saint Francis earned the right to host after winning the head-to-head tie breaker with Central Connecticut. The Red Flash defeated CCSU 2-1 last Friday and Wagner 5-0 on Sunday to finish the regular season at 6-2 in the NEC. Sacred Heart's 1-1 draw against Bryant and FDU's 2-1 loss at Mount Saint Mary's gave SFU the number one seed.  

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
FDU comes into the playoffs at 7-11-1 overall and finished the NEC season at 5-2-1. They bring a high-powered offense with them led by Jessi Reinhardt who led the NEC with 18 points.  Elma Kolenovic tied for the NEC lead with six goals and FDU boasts four players who recorded at least 11 points during the season. In goal, look for freshman Amanda Fitzgerald who has made 18 starts in goal. She owns a 2.23 goals against average on the season and three shutouts. 

ABOUT THE FLASH
SFU comes into the playoffs winners of three straight to end the season. Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) leads the offense, tying for the NEC lead with six goals and finishing second with 16 points overall. Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) was not far behind, the sophomore had five goals and 14 points on the year with four of those goals being game winners. SFU brings a balanced offense into the playoffs with seven players scoring at least two goals. In net, Julia Hernan (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) has played every minute for the Red Flash and sports a 1.63 goals against average and a .83 mark in NEC play. The redshirt freshman has six shutouts overall on the season, five in NEC play. Saint Francis will be looking to avenge losses to FDU in each of the last two NEC tournaments. Both of those matches came at FDU. 

SFU IN THE TOURNEY

Number of appearances: 10 (8 under van Stralen)

Consecutive Appearances: 7

NEC Titles: 2 (2010, 2013)

NEC Regular Season Titles: 4 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016)

Overall NEC Tourney Record: 6-7

Brenda van Stralen's NEC tourney Record: 6-5

SFU record at home in NEC Tourney:  4-2...3-0 in NEC semi-finals at home

FOLLOW ALONG
If you can't make the tournament, all three matches will be aired on NEC Front Row with Dave Popkin on the call. Live stats will also be available, all links to the tournament can be found on the women's soccer schedule page. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The winners of the two semi-finals will meet on Sunday at noon for the NEC championship.