Flash Points:

• Saint Francis starts their inaugural season at the Bison Invite hosted by Bucknell
• SFU will take on Claremont Mudd Scripps and Mercyhurst
• The Red Flash defeated Mercyhurst in an exhibition game back in October

 
LORETTO, PA- The Saint Francis Red Flash Water Polo team will officially start their program this weekend as they take on Claremont Mudd Scripps at 10 a.m. Saturday, Mercyhurst at 5:30 on Saturday evening, and St. Francis-Brooklyn on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Bison Invite hosted by Bucknell.
 
ABOUT THE FLASH
The Red Flash officially begin their inaugural season this weekend under the direction of head coach Pat Beemer. Three members of the Red Flash earned high school All-America honors last season as high school seniors. Emily Wickenheiser (Mechanicsburg, Pa/Cumberland Valley) earned first-team honors, Erin O'neill earned second-team and Kelly Fehr (Erie, Pa/Villa Maria Academy) was named an honorable mention. They highlight a roster that is filled with junior college stars and first-team all-state players.
 
This will be the second meeting between Mercyhurst and the Red Flash, having met up in an exhibition game won by SFU back in October, the teams will meet up as part of the George Washington mini on March 11.  It will be the first meeting between SFU and SFBK and Claremont. It will be the only meeting between the Terriers and the Red Flash this season. SFU will meet up with Claremont in California on March 3^rd, as part of the Claremont Convergence.
 
ABOUT CLAREMONT
The Athenas are off to a 2-0 start to their season, having bested Chapman 12-9 and Occidental 9-2 last weekend. They've raced out to their 2-0 start with a balanced offense. Clare Baxter, Jessica Gaffney, Aracelia Aldrete and Tess Van Hulsen all have four goals on the season. Mariah Mastrodemos has both wins in goal and had an impressive eight-save performance in the win over Occidental.  Van Hulsen was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Week last week as she recorded a hat trick in the 12-9 win over Chapman.
 
ABOUT THE LAKERS
Mercyhurst was selected to finish fourth in the Western Water Polo Association after going 9-12 in 2016. The Lakers graduated their top three scorers from a season ago as Becky Isalaco headlines nine returners from last season. Isalaco was the team's fourth leading scorer with 27 goals and 35 points. Mercyhurst also graduated goalie Jesse Sworden and will turn to freshman Madison Maes in between the pipes. SFU will be the final opponent for the Lakers at the Bison Invitational, they will take on George Washington on Friday night before taking on host Bucknell on Saturday morning.
 
ABOUT THE TERRIERS
St. Francis Brooklyn is coming off a 5-20 season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last year. They are led by their leading scorer from last year in now sophomore Erin Gonzalez who scored 46 goals and had 50 points as a freshman. Fellow sophomore Nicole Herrick added 31 goals and 42 points last season. The Terriers bring back both goalies from last season in Melanie Brooks and Ashley Harp. Brooks received 21 of the 25 starts and played to a 17.26 goals against average.
 
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Francis will open up their home schedule next Friday night as they welcome in George Washington for a 7 p.m. start time inside the Stokes Natatorium.