LORETTO, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the Saint Francis women's lacrosse team will begin its 2016 season at home against first-year program Radford University at 2 p.m.
 
Head coach Gregg Gebhard, now in his fifth season at the helm, became the program's all-time winningest coach last season. Gebhard welcomes new assistant coach Kara Concheck to his coaching staff. Concheck was a four-year player at Fresno Sate, and holds the record at FSU in goals in free position goals.  
 
Captains Christina Fini (Huntington, N.Y./Smithtown East), Sarah Mahon (Malverne, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and Lindsay Ingram (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) will lead the Flash on the field.
 
Attack
 
Rebecca Meyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton), a senior, will lead the Flash attack in her fourth season in Loretto after a season that saw her tally 23 goals in 16 starts. The senior also dished out three assists and registered 11 ground balls.
 
Fellow senior Katie Schaaf (Ellicott City, Md./Hebron) will look to build on her 10-goal and team-leading 18 assist 2015 season. Schaff only needs two assists to become the all-time assists leader. She currently sits at 58.
 
Mahon turned a solid rookie season a year ago, starting in 13 games. The sophomore attacker scored 17 goals and contributed with five assists.
 
Sophomore Jessica Fischetti (Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) looks to build off of her rookie campaign were she racked up 11 goals and three assists.
 
Junior Blair Rosenberg (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) will look to contribute in 2016 after appearing in 13 games and scoring seven goals. Sophomore Sydney Rowan (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) will provide depth upfront for the Flash offense.   
 
Midfield
 
Fini, a two-time team captain, led the Flash in goals with 27 and was third on the squad in ground balls with 28. The senior has accumulated 80 career points over her first three seasons.
 
Ingram, a fellow senior midfielder and captain, looks to finish strong. Ingram registered 11 goals, three assists and led the Flash with 30 draw controls.
 
Junior's Holly Lawrence (Damascus, Md./Damascus) and Sydney Shearer (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown) will follow up with productive campaigns in 2015. Lawrence finished second on the team in goals scored with 25 and led the Flash in total points with 35, while Shearer will look to improve on her total from six goals and two assists.
 
Sophomore Jessica Mazzur (Dallastown, Pa./York Catholic) played in 15 games in her rookie season and totaled six goals, two assists and 15 ground balls. 
 
Freshman's Morgan Day (New Park, Pa. /Kennard Dale) and Alex Anton (Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) could see their first collegiate action this spring.
 
Defense
 
Junior Anai Flanagan (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) shifts from the midfield to defense and senior Victoria O'Brien (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East) returns to solidify the defense.  Flanagan caused seven turnovers and finished with 13 ground balls, while O'Brien corralled 15 ground balls and caused five turnovers.
 
Sophomore's Kelly Aquino (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) and Rebecca Keane (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) should add depth and could contribute this season. Aquino saw action in 13 games, while Keane missed 2015 because of an injury. 
 
Freshman's Stephanie Fleming (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), Laura Johnson (Waldorf, Md./Bishop McNamara), Eilis Hagan (Damascus, Md./Damascus) and Marlo Vandiver (Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford) will push to see the field this season.
 
Goalie
 
Junior starting goalkeeper Heather McKee (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright Bel Air) returns from last year after starting 16 games. She made 135 saves out of a total of 419 shots she faced. Freshman Ashley Stoessel (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) bolsters an impressive high school resume and will push for playing time.