LORETTO, PA- The Saint Francis Men's Soccer team has gotten off to a good start to the spring games of 2016.

In the first of their 3 games, the Flash traveled to the University of Pittsburgh and defeated the Panthers 2-0. Freshman Collin Wurst (Imperial, Pa/West Allegheny) was joined on the score sheet with fellow Freshman Mario Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township), who continues his fine form of scoring from the fall. Andrew Garcia (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) had a fine game in net, recording a clean sheet; Garcia recorded six clean sheets in the fall.

In the next couple of games, Saint Francis traveled to Penn State to play both Bucknell and Penn State in a round-robin event. Bucknell was first on the agenda and Saint Francis started off in great style.
Stefan Sjekloca (Belgrade, Serbia/Fryeburg Academy) scoring just three minutes into the game, thanks to a volley from the top of the box.  Sjekloca struck again, thanks a to fantastic strike that looped over the keepers head and into the bottom corner, putting the Red Flash up 2-0. Not wanting to be left out, Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere) sealed the game with a penalty kick towards the end of the game, a great bit of play down the right hand side, and some individual skill from Brendon McGee led to a foul in the box. De Vries stepped up and made it 3-0 and sent the Flash to 2-0 in the spring season.

In the last game of the day, Saint Francis would play in-state rivals Penn State. Although the game ended 0-0, Saint Francis had the better of the chances throughout the game (including Mario Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township) hitting the post mid-way through the first half), but thanks to some good defending and goalkeeping, both teams earned the clean sheet, the third of the spring for SFU.

Saint Francis will host a double header next weekend, with Salem International University and Alderson & Broaddus College (both NCAA-II programs) coming to Loretto, PA, the games will take place on Saturday, April 9^th. Next, SFU plays California University PA (NCAA-II) at home on April 16th, and then pays a visit to George Washington University on April 23rd. SFU concludes its spring season on Sunday 9/24 with the annual alumni game.