Loretto, Pa-  On a chilly, rainy day reminiscent of weather in London, your Saint Francis Red Flash defeated in-state rival Lock Haven 2-1 on Senior Day. The Red Flash finished 8-9 on the season and 4-4 in A-10 play.

Turning Point

In the 53^rd minute, Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) received a picture perfect pass from Abby Romig (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) and knocked it in to give Saint Francis a 2-0 lead which proved to be a large enough margin to preserve the victory.

Coach's Reaction

Coach Betta was very excited about the big win on Senior Day stating, "It was good to end the season on a winning note." She is looking forward to next season noting that, "The team is young, we have many returning starters and we are bringing in some great girls."

Players' Reply

Seniors Kyra Castano (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) and Kali Thies (Newton, N.J./Hackettstown) both agreed that the win over UMass this season for the first conference win was among the highlights of their careers. They offered some advice for the underclassmen. Thies said, "Play with your heart" and Castano added on, "Enjoy every minute because it flies." Wise words indeed.

Highlights

·         Both teams started out slowly with the inclement weather dampening their offensive attacks.

·         At the 11^th minute, Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) launched a shot that missed the net but it did travel through the goal posts. Unfortunately, field hockey does not recognize football field goals.

·         During the 21^st minute, Brianna Govia (St. James, Trinidad/Holy Name), with assistance from Seabrook, shot a laser past the Lock Haven goalkeeper to break the deadlock and give the Red Flash an early lead.

·         The remainder of the first half saw penalty corners but no attempted shots.

·         The start of the second half continued where the first half left off with neither team able to gain traction in the traditional sense or within the frame of momentum.

·         Early in the second half, Abby Romig (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) broke free on a breakaway but the slick ball combined with the wet turf prevented her from taking a shot to the great consternation of the crowd.

·         At the 53^rd minute, Abby Romig (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) and Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) teamed up for the final turning point of the season when Romig passed high to Seabrook who expertly tapped it in for a 2-0 lead.

·         The Bald Eagles died hard. Using a combination of substitutions and defensive pressure, they prevented the Red Flash from attempting any more shots. Eventually, they breached the Red Flash line when De Gannes passed across to Alyscia Smith who carved the deficit in half with a goal.

·         The final three minutes witnessed a flurry of activity as Lock Haven desperately pressed forward but Saint Francis valiantly stood strong and defeated any attempts at shooting to finish the season on a strong note.

Notes

·         Saint Francis outshot Lock Haven 10-7.

·         Both teams had four penalty corners.

·         Elizabeth Dyer (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) played all 70 minutes in the pen and earned four saves in a brilliant defensive performance.

·         It was Senior Day for Captain Kyra Castano (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin) and Kali Thies (Newton, N.J./Hackettstown). Both players were honored before the game in recognition of their careers. It is safe to say that Red Flash fans will not forget their excellence on the field which led to many memorable moments and victories.