Season Preview:

The Saint Francis field hockey team enters the 2018 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Betta Ceretta. During her first season, coach Ceretta led the Red Flash to an 8-9 overall record and a 4-4 A-10 Conference record, narrowly missing the postseason. With a year under her belt Coach Ceretta is excited for the 2018 season "Last year was a learning experience for our team with it being my first year in the program. We have added 10 talented players this year and have a lot more depth. With a year in the system I think you will start to see things click."

Goalkeepers

Elizabeth Dyer (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) returns for her senior season after starting 16 games in 2017, recording a save percentage of .725 while earning three shutouts. Dyer made 87 saves during her 2017 campaign. The two year starter has made 183 career saves as a member of the Red Flash and was an All-Conference selection as a sophomore.

Fellow senior Claudia Marzec (Whitinsville, Mass./Moses Brown School) returns as a reliable backup. She appeared in four games last season for the Red Flash seeing 142 minutes of action and accounting for 15 saves.

Freshman Avian Thompson (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) joins the squad from Lower Dauphin High School where she earned 2017 Mid-Penn Keystone Conference Honorable Mention Accolades.

Forwards / Midfielders

All-Region and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 award winner Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial) returns for her senior season with the Red Flash. The two-year starter has appeared in 37 straight games, starting all 20 games last season finishing second on the team in scoring with 27 points on 10 goals and 7 assists. She is joined by fellow Second Team All-Atlantic 10 award winner Brianna Govia (St. James, Trinidad/Holy Name). The senior led the Red Flash offense in scoring with 28 points on 10 goals and 8 assists.

Senior Hannah Retherford (Benton, Pa./Benton) returns after finishing third in scoring with 13 points on four goals and five assists. Junior Taylor Nesmith (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) also returns and was responsible for two goals and three assists totalling eight points last season.

Senior Marielle Cavallaro (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) provided six points on three goals last season and will help provide necessary veteran leadership for the Red Flash. Junior Livvy Webb (Easton, Md./Saints Peter and Paul) returns after appearing in 17 games last season as does junior Kelli Connolly (Laurel Springs, N.J./Camden Catholic) returns after missing all of last season with an injury.

Sophomore Kellie Drugotch (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) will look to improve upon last season after playing in 17 games and making two starts. Sophomore Abby Romig (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) will provide additional leadership and experience for the Red Flash.

Freshmen Mary-Anne Nortier (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Natalie Scheib (Herndon, Pa./Line Mountain), Atina Pagani (Concepcion Del Uruguay/Instituto Santa Teresito), Agustina Deharbe (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. Catherine's Moorlands), Samara Schratz (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), Kate Viera (Providence, R.I./Moses Brown), and Smantha Olton are all expected to impact and provide depth for the Red Flash midfield during the 2018 season.

Backs / Defenders

Juniors Celeste Azzari (Woolwich Twp., N.J./Kingsway Regional) and Taylin Lehman (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) will provide a veteran defensive presence for the Red Flash this season. Sophomores Taylor Massage (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey) and Grace Gibson (Otane, New Zealand/Napier Girls') return as valuable defensive support for the team. Freshmen Ashlynn Lennon (Elverson, Pa./Twin Valley) and Grace Knepshield (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) look to make a smooth transition into collegiate field hockey and make their defensive presence felt by opponents.
 

The captains this year are Marielle Cavallaro (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley), Brianna Govia (St. James, Trinidad/Holy Name), and Brea Seabrook (Wilkes Barre, Pa./GAR Memorial).

The Red Flash opens its season on the road against Ball State on Friday, August 24 and Miami (OH) on Sunday, August 26.

Scouting Ball State

MAC-member Ball State enters the 2018 season looking to improve on its 5-12 mark. The Cardinals are led by first-year head coach Stephanie Bernthal.The programs ninth head coach comes to Ball State after spending four seasons at the University of Richmond as an assistant coach under head coach Gina McCorkle. Ball State returns three of its top five point getters from the 2017 season including redshirt junior Michelle Shampton who tallied eight points. Redshirt sophomore Sierra Jefferson and senior Anya Eicher join her as the focal points of the Cardinals attack. Saint Francis is 0-1 all-time against the Redhawks, losing the first and only meeting in 2017.

Scouting Miami (OH)

The Redhawks are coming off of a successful 2017 season where they finished with a 12-9 overall and an 8-0 conference record. Miami (OH) is led by eighth- year head coach Inako Puzo. MAC Player of the Year Paula Portugal returns for her senior season after finishing her 2017 campaign with 52 points on 20 goals and 12 assists. All-MAC First Team goalkeeper Maddie Passarella also returns for the Redhawks for her senior season. Passarella made 95 saves over 21 games and has a 72% save percentage. The Red Flash are 0-1 all-time against the Redhawks losing their only meeting 2-3 in 2012.