LORETTO, Pa. – A dominant performance at both ends of the field, complete with a handful of program records and milestones, helped the Saint Francis women's lacrosse team earn its second straight NEC win in a 17-6 victory over Central Connecticut on Saturday at DeGol Field.
 
Junior Autumn McHenry tied the program's single-game assist record with six in an eight-point afternoon. Senior Emileigh Scott collected a season-high five goals and secured the 300^th draw control of her career, becoming the first player in program history to reach the milestone.
 
Saint Francis assisted on all 12 of its goals not scored on free-position opportunities and allowed the fewest goals in an NEC contest in program history, besting last Saturday's performance. The 14 first-half goals were tied for the most in Saint Francis' 20 seasons of NCAA lacrosse.
 
Saint Francis 17, Central Connecticut 6
Records: Saint Francis (2-3, 2-2 NEC); Central Connecticut (0-6, 0-4 NEC)
Location: DeGol Field (Loretto, Pa.)
 
COACH COYNE'S COMMENTS
"What a fabulous game. We came out on fire in the first half. Anytime a team scores 14 unanswered goals against a quality opponent it sends a message. To have 11 different players involved in scoring along with 12 assisted goals speaks to the strength of the attacking unit. It also demonstrates our commitment to unselfish play. Autumn had an amazing game today. She puts in the work so it's great to see her own her talent on the field. Our defensive unit has really stepped up its play too. It's really exciting to set another defensive record in back-to-back games. We keep getting better every game.

"I have really enjoyed working with Emileigh. She's a true competitor and a natural leader on the field. Emileigh makes it look easy but it takes tremendous skill to dominate off the draw. Everyone benefits from her success on the draw circle. It makes us better as a team. Emileigh finds a way to get it done even when consistently drawing our opponent's best defender."
 
KEY MOMENT

• McHenry scored 22 seconds into the contest to begin a 14-0 run as the Red Flash held the Blue Devils off the board for the first 27 minutes of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Red Flash won the opening draw and set up McHenry to score the game's opening goal 22 seconds in.
• McHenry would assist on the next three goals, helping junior C.C. Courter, Scott, and senior Amanda Heidt as SFU built a 4-0 lead. Free-position goals from junior Hannah McDermott and redshirt senior Livia Baker made the lead 6-0 with 23:32 to play in the half.
• McHenry assisted on goals by Baker and Scott before Courter set up Scott to make it 9-0 with 16:31 to go before halftime.
• Heidt scored to increase the lead to double digits and redshirt senior Peyton LeConte followed with her first of the year to grow the advantage to 11-0.
• Senior Sam Scott assisted on a goal by freshman Danielle Hernandez and Emileigh Scott's fourth of the afternoon before McHenry added another goal, increasing the advantage to 14-0 with 4:16 to go in the half.
• Central Connecticut would score the final goal of the first half and first strike after the break to pull within 14-2.
• Emileigh Scott and Baker would add one more each to make the lead 16-2 with 19 minutes to play. Freshman Tori Petrie recorded her first career assist on Scott's goal.
• The Blue Devils scored the next four to cut into the Red Flash lead before a Heidt goal with 1:50 to go closed out the scoring.

 
STATS

• Emileigh Scott tallied five goals, five draw controls, and a caused turnover.
• McHenry recorded two goals, six assists, four draw controls, two caused turnovers, and a ground ball.
• Baker and Heidt scored three times each.
• McDermott added four caused turnovers, three ground balls, and a draw control to her goal.
• LeConte collected five draws, two ground balls, and a caused turnover along with the third goal of her collegiate career.
• Junior Elyssa Enrique recorded nine saves, including six in the second half.
• The Red Flash held an 18-7 advantage in the draw circle.
• Saint Francis scored on 17 of its 28 shot attempts and 21 shots on goal.

 
GAME NOTES

• Saint Francis improves to 4-15 all-time against Central Connecticut and has won three straight games in the series.
• Freshmen Holly Jones and Kateri Hernandez made their collegiate debuts.
• McHenry's six assists match Katie Schaaf's total at LIU in 2013 for the most in program history. Saturday's 17 goals were the most since that win over the then-Blackbirds.
• Scott passed Sarah Mahon for fourth in program history with 116 career goals.
• With her six-assist performance, McHenry jumped Liz McCague and Rachel Larson for sole possession of 10^th in program history with 28 for her career.
• LeConte improved to 131 career ground balls, four back of Kate Simmons for third in the program record book.
• The victory was the 297^th in the head coaching career of Tracy Coyne, tying her for ninth with Johns Hopkins' Janine Tucker for the most all-time among Division I coaches. Coyne will enter Wednesday three wins away from 300 for her career, a feat achieved by only eight coaches to spend the majority of their careers in Division I.

 
UP NEXT 
The Red Flash travels to Long Island for a midweek clash with LIU. Wednesday's contest is slated for 1 p.m.; broadcast information is to be determined.
 
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.