Flash Points:
- Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe), Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) and Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) scored for the Flash
- Ramona Padio scored twice for Papua New Guinea
- Shaelyn Parry (Gibsonia Pa/Pine-Richland) got the start in goal and made five saves
LORETTO, PA- Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) finished off a cross from
Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) in extra time as Saint Francis defeated the U-20 Papua New Guinea National Team 3-2 in an international friendly on Tuesday afternoon.
PNG is playing college programs as a tune-up for hosting the U-20 World Cup in November. On their trip, PNG has played: Seattle Pacific, Lock Haven, Bucknell, and Bloomsburg before the match today. They will play Georgetown this weekend before heading home.
Shaelyn Parry (Gibsonia Pa/Pine-Richland) got the start in net for the Red Flash and made a few saves early as PNG came out as the aggressor early in the match. PNG counter-attacked off a
Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) corner in the 20th minute and thought to have scored on a rising shot that hit the under-side of the cross bar. However, the ball deflected straight down and never fully crossed the goal line. Minutes later, Papua New Guinea scored the match's first goal. Padio took a deflected shot and bent a ball around a pair of defenders and just inside the far post in the 26th minute.
The Flash responded well after the opening goal. McGhee fired a shot wide and
Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) provided instant pressure when she entered the match. After having one shot stopped, LaDuke finished off a beautiful passing sequence from
Casey Gallaher (Sidman, Pa./Forest Hills) and Morales with a tap-in goal in the 37th minute to tie the match. Minutes later, Morales took a pass from
Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and broke through the PNG defense and gave the Red Flash the lead on a shot that was buried into the low right corner. SFU took a 2-1 lead into the half.
LaDuke, McGhee and Morales kept the pressure on Papua New Guinea into the second half, each firing strong chances on goal. Both teams went to subs often throughout the second half and much of the play was in the middle of the field. In the 75th minute, a great individual effort from Padio tied the match. The striker worked to find space and fired a left-footed shot inside the near post to tie the match at two.
SFU kept pressing, looking for the go-ahead goal.
Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) was stopped twice, once on a header off a corner kick as the match wore on. In extra time, McGhee found space on the near side and lobbed a cross into the box. Suler found space behind the defense and put away the game winner with just moments remaining in the match.
The Red Flash out shot Papua New Guinea 17-10 including 13-7 in shots on goal while PNG held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Abigayle Metta made 10 saves for PNG in the loss. Saint Francis will look to use this as momentum heading into the weekend's two home matches. SFU hosts Wright State on Friday and former NEC foe UMBC on Sunday. Match time against the Raiders is set for 4 p.m. on Friday.
