BOX SCORE Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis women's soccer team (3-5-1) protected its home pitch with an impressive 3-0 victory over Radford on Sunday thanks to a goal and an assist from senior Gabi Morales (Madrid, Spain/Colegio La Inmaculada-Marillac) and junior Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory). The Highlanders entered the match sporting a perfect 7-0 record.

Van Stralen's Reaction 

"We are very happy," van Stralen remarked. "To win 3-0 against a really good Radford team is a great result. They really made us work hard but we were able to connect and stay patient and were finally able to wear them out after the first 80 minutes."

Highlights

• Suler opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Morales started the play, holding up the ball and laying off to freshman Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) who spotted Suler streaking to goal. Suler took her first touch in stride and laced a ball over the keeper for her second goal in as many matches.
• The Highlanders defense held the Red Flash off the board for the next 55 minutes. Morales had the best chance late in the first half but her breakaway attempt went wide as she was tackled by the goalkeeper.
• Sophomore Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) broke the match open with her fourth goal of the season in the 72nd minute. Suler ignited the attack with a beautiful seam pass against the grain. McGhee set herself up perfectly with her first touch then beat the keeper low and to the far post with a left-footed strike.
• Morales put the icing on the cake in the 80th minute with a dazzling free kick, up over the wall and off the inside of the post, for her third goal of the season. 

Notes

• Saint Francis ended the game with a 15-10 advantage in shots and 6-3 advantage in shots on goal.
• Morales was a terror on the Highlander defense all match, finishing with six shots and three shots on goal.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Hernan (Collegeville, Pa./The Hill School) made three saves for her third clean sheet of the season.
• Senior Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) was a stalwart in the middle of the pitch, playing 84 minutes, recording two shots, and winning countless challenges in the midfield.
• Saint Francis is 2-0 on the season at home, outscoring its opponents 6-0.
• With her assist, Morales moved into solo fifth place in school history in assists with 18.
• McGhee leads SFU with 12 points on the season, a new career-high, on four goals and four assists.
• Barnett's assist was the first point of her career.

Up Next 

The Red Flash closes out non-conference action with a game at Bucknell on Wednesday, Sep. 20, at 7 p.m.