Flash Points:

• Saint Francis was led by Emily Wickenheiser (Mechanicsburg, Pa/Cumberland Valley)'s four goals
• Kate Wilke (Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) made 11 saves and had four steals
• SFU was 0-2 on penalty shots

 
 
Washington, D.C.- The Red Flash fought valiantly but dropped a 9-7 decision to George Washington to kick off both the George Washington Invitational but also CWPA Conference play for both teams.
 
The defense was the story for both teams early as Kate Wilke (Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) made a big save early on and Saint Francis was denied twice by GW goalie Katherine Moeller. The Red Flash killed off a pair of GW power-play opportunities but the Colonials struck first on their third man-advantage. GW took the 1-0 lead midway through the quarter. After both teams fought off power-plays, Emily Wickenheiser (Mechanicsburg, Pa/Cumberland Valley) drew a penalty shot. The freshman tried to go into the top right corner, but Moeller got just enough of it to deflect it wide. After the SFU defense forced a turnover, the offense earned a power play that Wickenheiser cashed in on off a Melani Aghazarian (Glendale, Calif./Glendale (La Valley College)) feed. The teams would be tied at one after one.
 
SFU got a bit of good fortune at the start of the second when Scarlett Hallahan hit the post on a shot. The Red Flash collected the rebound and Erin O'Neill (Landsdale, Pa/North Penn) fed Kelly Fehr (Erie, Pa/Villa Maria Academy) for a goal to give the Red Flash their first lead. It lasted 18 seconds as on their ensuing possession, GW knotted the game at two on a Jackie Bywater goal. Three straight Moeller saves kept SFU at bay but Wilke rose to the challenge on a pair of GW counters, making a pair of saves of her own. GW retook the lead with just under three minutes to go in the half, only to see Wickenheiser tie the game up with her second of the day with just 90 seconds remaining. The furious end to the half continued as Bywater's second goal of the game gave GW a lead with 55 seconds remaining in the half, SFU would be down 4-3 after 16 minutes.
 
Saint Francis won the third-quarter sprint and out of the timeout, Wickenheiser's third of the game tied the game at four. After an offensive foul on GW, Kelly Fehr (Erie, Pa/Villa Maria Academy) drew a penalty and SFU scored on the power play to retake the lead 5-4. Midway through the quarter, Aghazarian was whistled for a penalty foul and Hallahan converted the penalty shot to re-tie the game. Both teams would miss opportunities late in the quarter and it would be tied 5-5 after three.
 
George Washington won the fourth-quarter sprint and drew a pair of penalties on SFU to have a two-man advantage. Bywater converted on the 6-4 opportunity to give GW back the lead. Another power-play goal would stretch the lead out to 7-5 before the Flash came roaring back. Wickenheiser scored her fourth of the match on a Kelsey Gring (Sinking Spring, Pa/Wilson) pass to make it 7-6 then Aghazarian scored a minute later to tie it at 7. With just under four minutes left, GW scored what proved to be the game winner. On the ensuing possession, Missy McCreary (Altadena, CA/LaSalle (Citrus College)) drew a penalty shot but her attempt skipped off the inside part of the post and stayed out of the net. The Colonials would add an insurance goal with just over a minute left and withstood a late Flash charge to earn the conference win.
George Washington outshot SFU 27-22 and Kate Wilke (Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) was strong in net, stopping 11 of the 20 shots on goal and led the team with four steals. The loss drops SFU to 7-10 on the season and 0-1 in CWPA play. GW improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in conference. The Flash continue the George Washington Mini Invite on Saturday with three matches against Gannon, Mercyhurst and VMI. The Knights of Gannon are up first with an 8 a.m. start time.