Women's Soccer 8/31/2017 5:06:00 PM

Red Flash roll VMI, 4-0

BOX SCORE Lexington, Va. - With less than two minutes to play in the first half, the Saint Francis women's soccer team (1-3) scored two goals 35 seconds apart and never looked back in a 4-0 victory at VMI (2-3) on Thursday. Freshman Camryn Tirado scored a brace and sophomore Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) added a goal and two assists in the win.

Van Stralen's Reaction

"We stayed focused on the task at hand and were finally able to put the ball in the net," said head coach Brenda van Stralen. "It was a great team effort today and something we can build off of moving forward."

Highlights

The Red Flash put the Keydets under heavy pressure the entire first half but had nothing to show for it until 43 minutes into the match. Tirado changed that with her first career goal in the 44th minute. McGhee, whose pace gave VMI fits all afternoon, found Tirado with a low cross at the back post and the freshman redirected it into the open net.
McGhee doubled the lead just 35 seconds later. Freshman Erica Carpenter (Abingdon, Md./Notre Dame Prep) collected her first career point as her through ball sprung McGhee in on goal. McGhee beat the VMI keeper with a high shot to the near post.
Saint Francis wasted no time picking up where it left off in the first half, scoring in the 52nd minute. Once again, the duo of McGhee and Tirado connected for the goal. McGhee's cross was received by Tirado and her off-balanced shot wrong-footed the keeper.
Senior Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) made it 4-0 with her second goal of the season. Freshman Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), who was active in the midfield from the opening whistle, poked a loose ball to senior Leah Hardin (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen). Her low, hard shot forced a save and the rebound fell to Morales who had an easy tap-in after following the shot.
The outcome may have been different if not for two highlight-reel saves by sophomore goalkeeper Julia Hernan (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) when the game was still tied at 0-0 in the first half. The first save came on a free kick from 30 yards out that was destined for the top corner but plucked out by a diving Hernan.
Hernan was tested again 15 minutes later, diving to her left to keep out a hard shot from the top of the box.

Notes

The Red Flash dictated the pace from the onset, outshooting the Keydets 26-9.
Shots on goal were 16-4 and corner kicks were tiilted 7-2 in SFU's favor.
McGhee and Morales led Saint Francis with four shots and three shots on goal. Tirado and fellow freshman Teresa Reid (Northeast, Md./Rising Sun) followed with three shots.
A season-high 22 players saw time for Saint Francis. Freshman Bri Ulmer (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) made her collegiate debut.
The Red Flash only reached the four-goal mark once last season, a 5-0 drubbing of Wagner on Oct. 30.
Hernan recorded her ninth career clean sheet and her first of the 2017 season.