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Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis takes on Canisius in its home opener on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
Scouting Canisius
 
While the Red Flash have one game under its belt, Canisius will play for the first time in 2018. Canisius went 7-8-3 in 2017 but struggled to score goals with just 11 in 18 games. Nobody on the team scored more than two goals. Juniors Margretta Dry and Madeline Beaulieu return as the top scorers after recording six points on two goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Alana Rossi is back after posting nine shutouts and a 1.02 GAA as a sophomore in 2017.
 
Series History
 
Canisius holds the series lead over the Red Flash, 7-4-1.
 
Markiewicz on The Mark
 
Freshman Heather Markiewicz (Darnestown, Md./Northwest) became the first Saint Francis player to score on her debut since the program's all-time leading scorer, Tesa McKibben, did so as a freshman in 2009. It took Markiewicz less than seven minutes to find the net. Freshman Corrine Renninger also had a strong debut with two shots from the center back position.
 
Protecting Home Territory
 
The Red Flash have been dominant on its home field going 13-4-1 over the last two seasons. Saint Francis was unbeaten at the Stokes SoccerPlex in 2017 with five wins and a draw. In its six home matches, SFU outscored its opponents 14-2.
 
Winning Culture
 
Saint Francis will look to become the first program to win three consecutive NEC titles since CCSU won three in a row from 1997 – 1999. If the Red Flash were to capture the title once again in 2018, they would be just the second program in conference history to win five championships in an nine-year stretch. CCSU won six from 1997 – 2005.
 
Cupboard is Full

Junior forward Alyssa McGhee (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) will steal a lot of the headlines entering the season after earning the 2017 NEC Offensive Player of the Year. She led the NEC in goals (10) and assists (10) and her 30 points were the most by an SFU player since Tesa McKibben in 2013. However, the Red Flash are as deep as ever. Senior captain Sara Suler (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) is a two-time all-conference selection, landing on the second team last seaon after a three-goal and four-assist campaign. Sophomore Aubrey Suydam (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) was one of just three sophomores to earn all-conference honors, joining Suler on the second team. She also was an All-Rookie selection alongside teammates Erica Carpenter (Abingdon, Md./Notre Dame Prep) and Emilee Barnett (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley). Saint Francis will return 13 players who started at least one game last season.