Loretto, Pa. - Senior Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) scored two goals and added an assist and fellow senior Shannon McGinnis (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) recorded a goal and an assist as the duo led Saint Francis to a 5-0 victory over Wagner on Senior Day to secure the No. 2 seed in the NEC Tournament.

Van Stralen's Reaction

"This was a nice day for our seniors. We got off to a sluggish start and Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) really got us going there in the second half," said head coach Brenda van Stralen. "I thought we played a fantastic second half and it should give us good momentum going into next weekend's conference tournament."

Turning Point

Saint Francis was held at bay in the first half and entered halftime tied 0-0. Suler decided to take over the match starting with her first goal in the 50th minute. Freshman Alex Martinez (Baltimore, Md./Maryvale Prep) picked Suler out with a cross and the forward chested the ball down and volleyed home. McGinnis and Suler would score 36 seconds apart in the 59th minute to put the game out of reach at 3-0.

Highlights

• Suler took a couple rips from distance in the first half but one was saved and one was high.
• Freshman Corrinne Renninger was also active, but both of her shot attempts went over the bar.
• After Suler's opening goal, McGinnis doubled the lead with her first goal of the season. The goal was the result of a corner delivered by sophomore Mariana Jaleca (Sebtubal, Portugal).
• Suler scored a phenomenal goal less than a minute later. Freshman Corrine Renninger picked her out with a pass and she took a touch inside and curled to the back post.
• Suler and McGinnis were on the assisting side of SFU's fourth goal. McGinnis delivered a free kick into the box which Suler flicked on for Jaleca. She volleyed it out of the air and past the Wagner goalie for her fourth goal of the season.
• Freshman Leanna Choo (Germantown, Md./Northwest) set up the fifth and final goal with a strong run down the right. Her shot was saved but the rebound fell to junior Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) for an easy tap-in at the back post. 

Inside the Box Score

• SFU dominated the second half, scoring all five goals in the second half. The Red Flash outshot Wagner 18-6 in the second half and 28-11 for the match.
• Shots on goal favored SFU, 16-5.
• The Red Flash were awarded four corner kicks to two for the Seahawks.

Notes

• With the win, Saint Francis will be the No. 2 seed in next weekend's NEC Tournament hosted by top-seeded CCSU. It marks the ninth straight season in which the Red Flash has qualified for the playoffs.
• Suler saved her career-best performance for her final regular-season match as her five points on two goals and an assist was a career-high.
• The senior forward also led SFU with a career-high nine shots and seven shots on goal.
• McGinnis tallied her first points of the season with a goal and an assist, upping her career point total to 19 with eight goals and three assists.
• McGhee finishes the regular-season fourth in the NEC in points with six goals and four assists.
• The Red Flash finish the season 5-2-1 in the NEC and earn the second seed for the second straight year. The Red Flash won the 2017 Tournament as a two seed last year.
• SFU's five goals were a season-high and the most since a 5-0 win over LIU Brooklyn in last season's regular-season finale.
• It was the final home game for seniors Shelby Milton (Wollongon, NSW Australia/Westfields Sports) and Bri Guy (Turtle Creek, Pa./Woodland Hills) in addition to Suler and McGinnis.

Up Next

Saint Francis will play No. 3 Mount St. Mary's next Friday, Nov. 2 in one of two NEC Semifinals. The Red Flash defeated the Mountaineers 1-0 in Loretto on Oct. 7 behind a 53rd minute goal from Suler.