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Loretto, Pa. -The Red Flash field hockey team begins its inaugural season under the direction of coach Ceretta as Saint Francis welcomes the Chippewas of Central Michigan on Friday, Aug. 25 and the Pioneers of Sacred Heart on Sunday, Aug. 27 to DeGol Field.
 
Scouting Central Michigan
 
MAC member Central Michigan is entering 2017 hoping to improve on their 1-17 mark. The Chippewas are led by third-year head coach Molly Pelowski. Central Michigan returns three out of their top five scorers from the 2016 campaign including leading scorer senior Emily Barber who netted eight points. Junior Grace Forthaus and senior Alex Gonda join her as the focus points of the Chippewa attack. Central Michigan returns both of their goaltenders in junior Lily Amadio and sophomore Abigail Ebersole. This is the first ever meeting between Central Michigan and Saint Francis.
 
Scouting Sacred Heart
 
The Pioneers endured a tough 2016 season finishing with a 1-15 record. Sacred Heart is led by second- year head coach Sydney Van Der Merwe. Junior Rebecca Hauser was the leading scorer with 11 points on five goals and one assist. Senior Nichole Tolli contributed 10 points on four goals and two assists. Leading goalkeeper junior Emily Degennaro returns to give the Pioneers some continuity at the position. The Red Flash are 3-10 all-time against the Pioneers but Saint Francis has won the last three meetings.  
 
Higher Hopes
 
The field hockey team motto for 2017 is "Fly Higher." Those hopes are buoyed by the wealth of returning players for first year Head Coach Betta Ceretta. Among the key returnees are junior Elizabeth Dyer (Berwick, Pa./Berwick), the reigning Atlantic 10 Goalie of the Year, and last year's co-leaders in scoring: junior and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 award winner, Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) and junior Hannah Retherford (Benton, Pa./Benton) who both finished with 21 points.
 
Welcome to Loretto
 
Coach Ceretta might be a newcomer to Loretto; however, she is anything but a rookie to the game of field hockey. She has a long list of coaching accomplishments. Ceretta served at the helm of the Uruguayan Women's National Team from 2009-2011 and led the squad to a bronze medal in the South American Championship (2010). Last season, she was an assistant at Brown University and helped the Bears to an 8-9 record.  

Follow Along
 Saint Francis will have live stats for both games and will stream Sunday's match with the Pioneers. Links can be found at the top of the page and on the field hockey schedule page.
Home Sweet Home
 
With a 44-32 all-time record at DeGol Field, the Red Flash has found their home territory to be a friendly confine. The last three seasons have been especially comfortable with Saint Francis notching an 18-5 mark at DeGol Field.