Flash Points: 

• Saint Francis opens their 2016 regular season with matches against George Washington (Friday at 3) and Bucknell (Sunday at 2).
• Friday's match with GW can be seen on NEC Front Row, both matches will have live stats
• Admission is free to all soccer games at the Stokes SoccerPlex

LORETTO, PA- Saint Francis women's soccer opens the 2016 regular season with a pair of home matches this weekend, welcoming in George Washington on Friday and Bucknell on Sunday. 

ABOUT THE FLASH
Saint Francis was picked fourth in the NEC pre-season poll, matching their finish last season. SFU has made the NEC tournament every year since 2010 and is picked to do so again. SFU welcomes in 11 freshman to the squad for 2016 and they will join a squad that returns their top four scorers and three of their four All-NEC players from a season ago. Casey Gallaher (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) was the leading scorer last season and the senior captain netted a goal in the Flash's exhibition match at Akron. Joining Gallaher as captains this season are Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe). 

ABOUT GW
George Washington was picked second in the A-10 in their pre-season poll and are the defending regular season champions after going an unblemished 10-0-0 in the A-10 regular season. The Colonials return their top two scorers from last year, led by Mackenzie Cowley who scored 10 times last year. Miranda Horn was a part of six shutouts last year in goal. These two teams last met in 2013 with SFU coming out of the nation's capital with a 3-1 victory. 

ABOUT BUCKNELL
The Bison won 11 matches last year including a 3-0 win over the Flash in Lewisburg last season. Bucknell reached the Patriot League title game and return their top two scorers as well. They are led by Kendall Ham who topped the team with 20 points in 2015. Jessica Ratner returns in goal after posting 11 clean sheets as a junior. SFU last hosted Bucknell in 2014 and the teams played to a 1-1 draw. Bucknell owns a slight series lead all time, 7-6-2. 

FOLLOW ALONG
If you can't make the matches, live stats will be provided for both contests this weekend. Friday's match can be seen live on NEC Front Row. Both services are free of charge.