LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's lacrosse team continues its three-game homestand Saturday when the Red Flash hosts Sacred Heart at DeGol Field.
 
The Red Flash will partner with the HEADstrong Foundation for Saturday's game as part of its Game Hair Havoc campaign. HEADstrong is an organization with roots in the lacrosse community that works to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Make a contribution to Saint Francis' Game Hair Havoc efforts by clicking HERE.
 
Attendance at Saturday's contest is limited to the Saint Francis team guest list and holders of an active Saint Francis University ID.
 
Sacred Heart (1-2, 1-1 NEC) at Saint Francis (0-3, 0-2 NEC)
Location: DeGol Field (Loretto, Pa.)
Date and Time Saturday, March 13 – 1 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Sports
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #NECWLAX

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart is 1-2 on the year and 1-1 in NEC play after a 16-4 win over Nutmeg State rival Central Connecticut on Wednesday in Fairfield. Lydia Werlau had an all-around impressive effort to lead the way with five goals, one assist, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. The Pioneers forced the Blue Devils into more turnovers (22) and shot attempts (16). SHU played LIU twice to begin this season – once in a non-conference defeat in Fairfield and again last Saturday in a conference loss on Long Island.
 
Three players – Werlau, Mikala Eacrett, and Kerri Metzler – lead the Pioneers with six goals each on the year. Metzler's four assists and 10 points lead the way. Sacred Heart has faced challenges on the draw with a 44-21 disadvantage.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Francis is looking for its third straight win in the series with Sacred Heart after the Pioneers won the first 16 contests between the teams. Emileigh Scott scored five times in the 2019 meeting between the teams and Morgan Day notched the game-winner in overtime for a 14-13 Red Flash victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT: MOUNT ST. MARY'S 18, SAINT FRANCIS 9
A Mount St. Mary's surge in the closing minutes of the first half allowed the NEC preseason favorite to build an advantage it would not relinquish Wednesday in Loretto. Redshirt senior Livia Baker, senior Emileigh Scott, and junior Autumn McHenry scored two goals each for the Red Flash.
 
NO PASSING ZONE
Redshirt senior Peyton LeConte has recorded 13 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers in her first three games of 2021, with her caused turnovers per game average ranking second nationally and her ground balls average placing ninth.
 
LeConte jumped ahead of Jessica Mazzur for fourth in program history in career ground balls and now has 126 for her career while passing Catherine Helming for fifth in draw controls at 89. The defender from Maryland was selected as NEC Defensive Player of the Week Monday for the second consecutive week.
 
ONE FOR ONE-SEVEN
Freshman Danielle Hernandez scored her first career goal in Wednesday's contest against Mount St. Mary's. Hernandez recorded the tally with 12:06 to go in the game.
 
EMILEIGH RISING IN RECORD BOOK
Senior Emileigh Scott continues to climb in the program's record book in 2021. Scott, who has scored 110 times in a Red Flash uniform, enters Saturday two goals back of Sarah Mahon for fourth in program history. Her 122 points are seventh on the program's all-time list and she stands six draw controls shy of being the first Red Flash player to 300.
 
SAVE YOUR WORK OFTEN
Junior Elyssa Enrique matched her career high with 11 saves in the opener against Akron and again Wednesday vs. Mount St. Mary's. Enrique turned aside 11 Radford shots in last year's season opener.
 
AUTUMN SPRINGS INTO ACTION
Junior Autumn McHenry led the way for the Red Flash at Merrimack with four points on three goals and an assist while adding five draw controls. McHenry was honored as an NEC Prime Performer Monday.
 
COYNE AIMING FOR 300 IN 2021
Head coach Tracy Coyne currently stands at 295 career victories, which is 10th all-time among Division I coaches. Coyne and Johns Hopkins' Janine Tucker (297 entering Friday) look to join Northwestern's Kelly Amonte Hiller as coaches to reach 300 wins this season.
 
UP NEXT: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
Saint Francis welcomes Central Connecticut to DeGol Field next Saturday. The 1 p.m. game can be seen on NEC Front Row. Attendance will be limited to the Saint Francis team guest list and holders of active Saint Francis University IDs.
 
Follow Saint Francis Women's Lacrosse on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash program.

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