Flash Points
- Kate Wilke (Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) posted her seventh double-digit save performance, recording 15 on Thursday
- Missy McCreary (Altadena, CA/LaSalle (Citrus College)) scored twice to lead SFU
- Lani Merrill (San Clemente, Calif. /San Clemente (Saddleback College)) scored on a penalty shot
LONG BEACH, CA- The Red Flash hung with the #15 Long Beach State 49ers but a big second quarter from Long Beach was too much to overcome in a 13-6 setback on Thursday night.
The 49ers got off to a quick start netting two early goals by Christina Kotsia and Raney Remme. The Saint Francis defense then got going as goalie
Kate Wilke (Burbank, Calif./Burroughs) stood tall early and made two big saves and
Kelsey Gring (Sinking Spring, Pa/Wilson) recorded a steal. Wilke's second save sparked a fast break as the goalie found
Emily Wickenheiser (Mechanicsburg, Pa/Cumberland Valley) for a goal to make it 2-1. The 49ers responded immediately as Jackie Stanger found Remme for her second goal of the game. The Flash kept battling back as
Kelly Fehr (Erie, Pa/Villa Maria Academy) drew an exclusion but Wickenheiser hit the post on the ensuing power play to keep it 3-1. The keepers would trade saves towards the end of the first, and the Flash found themselves down 4-1 before
Melani Aghazarian (Glendale, Calif./Glendale (La Valley College)) drew an exclusion and
Missy McCreary (Altadena, CA/LaSalle (Citrus College)) scored just after the power play ended to make it 4-2. The 49ers would tally a goal just before the first period horn to make it 5-2 after one quarter.
Wilke continued to stand tall in the second, making a save right out of the gate after a 49er steal. The freshman goalie would make eight first-half saves. The 49ers would continue to press against the Red Flash scoring six times in the second to lead 11-2 at the half.
The freshman keeper continued her strong play in the third quarter, recording an early steal and a pair of saves against the Long Beach attack. The 49ers would make it 12-2 before the Flash counter-attacked. Tina Bonilla and McCreary each recorded steals while Wilke made another save, that led to another counter opportunity for the Flash where McCreary netted her second of the match. The Red Flash continued to pressure as Wickenheiser sent a flurry of shots on net late in the quarter, but could not beat keeper Alba Dominguez, Long Beach would lead 12-3 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter,
Lani Merrill (San Clemente, Calif. /San Clemente (Saddleback College)) would cash in on a penalty to get the Red Flash offense started. Minutes later, Erin O'Neil would strike on her first shot of the day. SFU would kill off an Aghazarian penalty and
Kelly Fehr (Erie, Pa/Villa Maria Academy) would tally another goal, just after the penalty expired. Wilke would make three of her 15 saves in the fourth quarter as the Flash shutout the 49ers 3-0 in the final quarter.
Long Beach out shot Saint Francis 28-15 on Thursday night but the Red Flash drew seven exclusions to just two for the 49ers. The loss drops SFU to 5-7 on the season but they will look to take the second-half momentum into the Claremont Convergence on Friday and Saturday. The Flash take on the top team in D-III Whittier to start the tournament with a 3:30 p.m. eastern time opening sprint.
