BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Saint Francis water polo team opened its 2021 season with a split in the opening day of the Hoosier Invitational, as the Red Flash defeated Salem in overtime before falling to host Indiana to close out the day.

Sophomore Addison Williams contributed a three-goal game in the season-opening win over the Tigers, while freshman Emese Szucs tallied three goals over two games in her first day of collegiate competition.

Saint Francis 12, Salem 8 (OT)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Salem struck first with a goal before Williams got Saint Francis on the board to begin an eight-goal run that kept the Tigers scoreless from 100 seconds into the contest until Salem scored with 5:56 to play in regulation.
- The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run over the final six minutes of regulation, with the equalizer coming with 52 seconds remaining.
- Szucs scored twice in the first overtime session and sophomore Madeleine Voss added a pair of goals in OT as the Red Flash put the finishing touches on a season-opening victory.

STATS/NOTES
- Williams scored a team-high three goals,while Voss, sophomore Taylor Halbauer and freshman Jenna Handali each added two.
- Szucs recorded two of the Red Flash's five assists.
- Halbauer drew two ejections and tallied four steals.
- The Red Flash connected on 12 of 34 shot attempts (.353).
- Junior Rosalinda Rivera and sophomore Heather Jacobson split time in goal, with Jacobson recording a team-high nine saves on 14 shot attempts.
- Szucs, Handali, and freshmen Emma Allamian and Katelyn Meagher made their collegiate debuts.

Indiana 16, Saint Francis 2

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Indiana scored three times in the first and three more in the second to hold a 6-0 halftime advantage.
- The Hoosiers added three more before Szucs got the Red Flash on the board on a penalty shot with 41 seconds remaining in the third.
- Junior Julia Bradford notched her first goal of the year for SFU's final tally of the contest.

STATS/NOTES
- Halbauer collected five ejections drawn, while the Red Flash recorded 10 as a team.
- Rivera played 27 minutes in goal before giving way to sophomore Haley Sanko, who made her season debut.
- Williams and Voss each collected a steal.
- The Red Flash was limited to two goals on 23 shot attempts (.087).

UP NEXT
Saint Francis will face Salem and Indiana again Sunday in Bloomington. The Red Flash and Tigers meet at 10 a.m. before Saint Francis closes out the weekend against the Hoosiers at noon. The game between SFU and Indiana will air on BTN+.

Follow Saint Francis Water Polo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.

To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.