BOX SCORE Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis women's soccer team (5-6-1, 2-0-0 NEC) capped off a six-point opening weekend in NEC action with a 2-1 win over Bryant (7-2-2, 1-1-0 NEC) on Sunday. The Red Flash held a youth clinic before the game, combining with the Saint Francis men's soccer team to raise $1,700 over the course of the day for the Soccer Without Borders organization.

Van Stralen's Reaction

"Today was a complete team effort from the players on the field to our bench," said head coach Brenda van Stralen. "We need to carry this good start over to next weekend."

Turning Point

Freshman Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) scored her second goal of the week in the 49th minute to put Saint Francis in front 2-1. The Red Flash would lead the rest of the way.

Highlights

• Senior Leah Hardin (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) almost gave Saint Francis the lead 40 seconds into the match, chipping a left-footed shot towards the far post that required a diving save.
• Saint Francis sophomore goalkeeper Julia Hernan (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) was the next to make a diving save, leaping high to deny a shot from Bryant's Remi Manna.
• Another tremendous save by Hernan on a dive to her right kept the game scoreless after 15 minutes.
• Freshman Erica Carpenter (Abingdon, Md./Notre Dame Prep) scored her first collegiate goal in the 31st minute, linking with sophomore Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) to get in down the left. She slid her shot under the Bryant goalkeeper to put SFU ahead 1-0.
• The Bulldogs equalized in the 41st minute when a Bryant crossed went off a Saint Francis defender for an own goal.
• Barnett put the Red Flash ahead for good in the 49th minute. McGhee laid off a pass for freshman Aubrey Suydam (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) who spotted Barnett free in the box. The freshman midfielder turned and fired a shot to the far post for her second goal in as many games.
• Saint Francis was stellar protecting its one-goal lead, creating the final two opportunities of the match.
• Freshman Camryn Tirado (Deptford, N.J./Deptford) had the first chance, but her left-footed shot to the far post was kept out by a diving save.
• Junior Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) set up senior Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) with a beautiful through ball moments later but Morales poked wide of goal.

Notes

• Bryant finished with a 19-13 advantage in shots and 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.
• Corner kicks were 4-2 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Hernan stopped eight of nine shots to earn her fifth win of the season.
• Morales led Saint Francis with three shots. Barnett, McGhee and Tirado added two apiece.
• Saint Francis freshmen combined to record two goals and an assist.
• Suydam's assist was her first career point.
• McGhee's two assists upped her season total to seven, which ranks in the top 10 in all of NCAA Division I. She has scored or assisted on 11 of Saint Francis's 19 goals.
• The Red Flash have started 2-0 in conference play in six of the last seven years.
• Saint Francis improves to 4-0 at home.

Up Next

The Red Flash host Robert Morris next Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m.