BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Saint Francis women's lacrosse team travels to Long Island for the second time in program history when the Red Flash squares off with LIU on Wednesday in the first meeting between the Red Flash and the combined Sharks program.
 
Wednesday's contest will be the first for Saint Francis at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium, which began hosting Division I lacrosse in 2020 when LIU Brooklyn and LIU Post merged.
 
A victory Wednesday would give the Red Flash its longest conference win streak in program history. Saint Francis is .500 or better through four NEC games for the first time in the team's 20 seasons.
 
Saint Francis (2-3, 2-2 NEC) at Long Island (4-1, 2-1 NEC)
Location: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium (Brookville, N.Y.)
Date and Time Wednesday, March 24 – 1 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Sports
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #NECWLAX

SCOUTING THE SHARKS
LIU is 4-1 on the year and 2-1 in conference games; the Sharks defeated Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut in games that will not count towards the league schedule. The Sharks have not played since a March 13 win over the Blue Devils in New Britain, as Saturday's game at Bryant was postponed.
 
Paige Sherlock has scored a team-high 15 goals for LIU, which has outscored opponents 53-40 through five games. The Sharks have won 70.6% of draw controls, which leads the nation. Rachel Masullo has collected 35 so far this season. Hailey Duchnowski's .563 save percentage is fifth in the country.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's meeting will be the first between the Red Flash and Sharks, who assume the Division I records of LIU Brooklyn. Saint Francis was 6-11 in 17 all-time meetings against the Blackbirds and 5-3 in the last eight contests.
 
Emileigh Scott scored four times and recorded nine draw controls in the 2019 meeting, which was won 12-10 by the Blackbirds.
 
LAST TIME OUT: SAINT FRANCIS 17, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 6
The Red Flash posted a record day throughout the stat sheet as Saint Francis jumped out to a 14-0 lead in Saturday's victory.
 
Saint Francis received six assists from junior Autumn McHenry, which tied the program's single-game record. The Red Flash also set program records for goals allowed, margin of victory, and first-half goals in a conference contest. SFU scored five free-position goals and assisted on the other 12.
 
DRAW MILESTONE FOR SCOTT
The first of five draw controls Saturday from senior Emileigh Scott was the 300^th of her career, making her the first player in program history to reach the mark. Scott also jumped to fourth in the program record book in goals in the victory.
 
START ME UP
Junior Hannah McDermott made her first start in a Red Flash uniform Saturday and collected four caused turnovers, three ground balls, one goal, and one draw control – an impact performance that earned her NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
The award gave Saint Francis an NEC weekly honor for the fourth-straight week – the longest stretch in program history. Senior Emileigh Scott and junior Autumn McHenry earned NEC Prime Performer honors.
 
NO PASSING ZONE
Redshirt senior Peyton LeConte has recorded 18 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers in her first four games of 2021, with her caused turnovers per game average ranking seventh nationally and her ground balls average placing ninth.
 
COYNE AIMING FOR 300 IN 2021
Head coach Tracy Coyne currently stands at 297 career victories, which is tied for ninth all-time among Division I coaches. Coyne and Johns Hopkins' Janine Tucker (297) look to join Northwestern's Kelly Amonte Hiller as coaches to reach 300 wins this season.
 
UP NEXT: MERRIMACK
Saint Francis returns to DeGol Field to host Merrimack on Saturday in an effort to split the season series with the Warriors. Opening draw is slated for 1 p.m. on NEC Front Row.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.