LORETTO, PA.- The Saint Francis athletics department celebrated another successful athletic season with the annual Flash Awards held inside DeGol Arena at the Stokes Athletics Center. 

Wallace Athletic Award 

Madison Cabell (Ivor, Va./Southampton)-Softball 
The Wallace Award is given annually to the top senior female student-athlete(s). 
Cabell is leading the first-place Red Flash and the Northeast Conference in several offensive categories, including home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage and total bases. The senior is on-pace to be a four-time all-NEC first baseman and holds the SFU and NEC career record for runs batted in. 

Turano Athletic Award 
Bryce England (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg)-Cross Country/Track and Field 
The Eugene and Rosemary Turano Award is given annually to the top senior male student-athlete(s). 
England has shattered the record books in his time at Saint Francis. A three-time NEC Scholar-Athlete, he is one of just five SFU men to earn All-NEC honors four times and one of three to win the NEC individual NEC Championship. His 10th place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship was the best by an SFU male since 2003. England earned All-Region Honors and the NEC Outstanding Performer of the year, all the while owning a 3.96 cumulative GPA as a Biology and Spanish double major. 

Whalley Sportsmanship Award 
Siobhan Bross (Danville, Pa./Danville Area)-Women's Soccer 
Malik Duncan (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic)-Fooball 
Bross was named the NEC Midfielder of the Year and a first team all-conference selection captaining the Red Flash to its third title in five seasons. She is the first player in program history to be a part of three championship teams. She started all 21 matches and led the Red Flash in minutes play. 
Ducan served as a team captain and was first team All-NEC selection and a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (given to the top FCS defensive player), Duncan earned All-America accolades from by College Sports Madness, HERO Sports, Phil Steele and STATS FCS. He recorded 41 tackles, 28 solo, three interceptions, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a QB hurry, closing his career without allowing a touchdown catch in 28 straight games. 

Picarella Graduate Scholarship 
Sophia Esposito (Coraopolis, PA/Montour (Gardner-Webb))-Women's Volleyball 
Sophia Esposito (Coraopolis, PA/Montour (Gardner-Webb)) is the 2018 winner of the Frank and Marie Picarella Graduate Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to the student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and in competition who will pursue a graduate degree at Saint Francis. Esposito has been a three-year starter for the volleyball team and a leader in the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. 

Ronald P. Muffie Sr. Memorial Scholarship 
Shannon McGinnis (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus)-Women's Soccer 
Ryan Alu (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West HS)-Men's Volleyball 
The Muffie Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Ronald Muffie, a 1957 graduate of SFU who passed away in June of 2017. The scholarship is divided evenly between a male and female student-athlete who exemplifies the spirit and commitment that Mr. Muffie showed during his time at Saint Francis. 
McGinnis has been an integral part of the Red Flash defense, helping the team to back-to-back NEC championships. McGinnis has been involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and will serve as SAAC president next year. 
Alu is a triple major and has a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Alu started at libero for the Red Flash men's volleyball team this season and finished among the conference leaders in digs. You can also find Ryan at our basketball and football games cheering on the Red Flash as our mascot, Frankie. 

Benham Scholar-Athlete Award 
Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe)-Women's Soccer 
Brandon Mihalo (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Holy Names Catholic)-Men's Golf 
The Doctor Phillip Benham Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the student-athletes who best represent excellence in the classroom and in the field of play. Senior soccer player Women's soccer player Allison LaDuke (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) and men's golfer Brandon Mihalo (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Holy Names Catholic) were this year's recipients. 
LaDuke was a first team All-NEC selection and the team captain for the Red Flash championship squad. An NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a Senior Class Award Finalist, LaDuke boasts a 3.9 cumulative GPA as a Physician's Assistant major. 
Mihalo, an accounting major with a 3.94 cumulative GPA, was named the NEC spring scholar-athlete. He leads the Red Flash in stroke average this season and was a 2017 All-NEC first team se 

Franciscan Athletic Award 
Jessica Mazzur (Dallastown, Pa./York Catholic)-Women's Lacrosse 
Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern)-Men's Volleyball 
The Franciscan Athletic Award Is presented to the student-athletes who best represent Franciscan Values. Mazzur leads the Red Flash in goals, assists and points and is second on the team in ground balls and caused turnovers. An NEC Player of the Week, Mazzur ranks 6th in school history in career points. 
Braswell capped a fantastic career by earning Second Team All-EIVA honors and landing on the conference's All-Academic Team. Braswell led the Red Flash in kills with 306 and service aces with 46. He finishes his career second in program history in service aces with 126 and third in career kills with 1,194 after recording his 1,000th vs. Penn State on February 10th. 

Student-Athlete Development Leadership Award 
Kyra Castano (Laflin, Pa./James M. Coughlin)-Field Hockey and Luke Weiss (Verona, N.J./Verona)-Football 
The Reverend Gabriel Zeis T.O.R. Student-Athlete Development Leadership Award is given to student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student-Athlete Mentors. Sam is a member of the Student-Athlete Mentors, and Flash Focus. 
Weiss was a four-year contributor and two-year starter on the Saint Francis defensive line. A Sams member and two-year participant of Flash Focus, Weiss spearheaded many of the football team's community service efforts and was a driving force for the football team's relationship with Brent Zierer from Team Impact. 
Castano, a four-year starter for the Field Hockey team, is one of the most involved student-athletes on the SFU campus. She has been an active member of the school's Flash Focus for three years and is involved with the Student-Athlete Mentor program and the SAMs Leadership Team. 

Red Flash Spirit Award 
Orchid Downs (Tyrone, Pa./Juniata Valley)-Band 
Brenna Erzen (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park)-Cheer 
Katelyn Flynn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley)-Dance 

Orchid is a four-year member of the University Marching and Pep Bands. She worked her way up through the ranks as a section leader, then assumed the role of drum major in both her junior and senior years. Orchid is a very talented and hard-working member of University Bands. She is always the first to arrive and the last to leave. Through her talent, work-ethic, and attitude, Orchid serves as a great example and role model for her teammates. 

Brenna is a senior PA major and a big part of the Red Flash cheer team. Her positive attitude, tireless work ethic and dedication as made her a great leader. She has been a great example and role model for our team both on and off the cheer mat. 

Katie Flynn is a junior PA major and the dance team captain. Katie has helped the dance team make great strides over the past year. With her passion, diligence and attention to detail, she has taken the Dance Team to a new level. 

Community Service Award 
Women's Soccer 
Women's Soccer was given the annual Community Service Award. The team took part in numerous community service initiatives throughout the 2017-18 academic year, collecting over 1,000 hours as a team. Women's soccer helped with Reaching Every Door Day, Hurricane Harvey relief, Sports 4 Kids Day, and Special Olympics. They also put on two fundraising events for Soccer Without Borders. 

Bob Hahn Team(s) of Excellence 
Women's Soccer 
The Bob Hahn Team(s) of Excellence was presented to the women's soccer team 
The women's soccer team captured the NEC regular season and tournament title. In addition to their excellence on the field, they collected over 1,000 community service hours and achieved a 3.472 team GPA. 

Outstanding Freshman 
Women; Emma Wrenn (Arlington Heights, ILL. /John Hersey )- Bowling 
Men: Lucas Rosa (Atibaia Brazil/COC Atibaia)-Men's Soccer 
The outstanding freshmen student-athletes went to Emma Wrenn (Arlington Heights, ILL. /John Hersey ) and Lucas Rosa (Atibaia Brazil/COC Atibaia). Wrenn performed her best on the biggest stages! After earning NEC All-Rookie Honors, she was SFU's top bowler at the NEC Championships, winning the Tournament MVP as Saint Francis claimed the NEC title. Wrenn was second on the team during league play with an 18.52 baker frame average. A Rookie of the Week, Wrenn finished league play with a 42.5% strike conversion rate. 

A member of the NEC All-Rookie Team, Rosa recorded four goals and three assists. His three-point effort sparked a win over No. 20 Old Dominion and his goal in a win over NJIT appeared as the No. 7 play on Sports Center. 

Outstanding Sophomore 
Women: Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle)-Women's Soccer 
Men: Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea)-Men's Basketball 
The outstanding sophomore awards went to Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea). 
McGhee had a special season, winning the NEC Golden Boot and Offensive Player of the Year after registering 10 goals and 10 assists. Her 30 points were the 6th most in single-season school history as she led Saint Francis to its third NEC title in the last five years. 

The accolades poured in for Braxton as he was a Lou Henson All-American, an NABC First Team All-District, First Team All-NEC performer. He led the NEC with 15 double-doubles and ranked second among all guards nationally in rebounding at 9.7 per game. His three NEC Player of the Week's were the most by an SFU player in school history. 

Outstanding Junior 
Women: Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg)- Women's Basketball 
Men: Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.))-Men's Basketball 
Kovatch set numerous records in her junior season and was a catalyst to SFU's Championship run. The NEC and ECAC Player of the Year set the NCAA record for three-pointers in a season with 141 and finished second in the country in scoring at 24.4 points per game. She was particularly impressive during the NEC Tournament, winning the Tournament MVP with a scoring average of 34.3 points per game. 

King was SFU's leading scorer, averaging over 18 points per contest to earn NABC First Team All-District and NEC First Team All-Conference honors. A two-time NEC Player of the Week, King became the 40th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. His 563 points for the season were the 13th most in school history. 

Father Dan Sinisi Red Flash Inspiration Award 
Katie Lafferty (Bremen, Ind./Bremen)- Women's Swimming 
Diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer prior to her freshman year at Saint Francis, Lafferty capped off a special career with a wonderful performance at the NEC Championships. She won the 50 free style with a school record time of 23.20 seconds and finished second in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke. Her time of 50.39 in the 100 free was also a school record.