NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Saint Francis women's lacrosse team received three-goal efforts from senior Emileigh Scott and junior Autumn McHenry, but Merrimack was able to build a second-half advantage and hand the Red Flash a 14-10 defeat Saturday in Massachusetts.
 
Scott and McHenry contributed four points each, while McHenry added five draw controls. Redshirt senior Peyton LeConte collected six ground balls and four caused turnovers for the Red Flash in the NEC opener.
 
Merrimack 14, Saint Francis 10
Records: Saint Francis (0-2, 0-1 NEC); Merrimack (1-1, 1-0 NEC)
Location: Duane Stadium (North Andover, Mass.)
 
COACH COYNE'S COMMENTS
"Obviously we are disappointed by the outcome. I thought we showed a lot of grit and heart when we came back to tie the game after being down by three goals at different points. Turnovers along with empty possessions killed us in the second half. We need to generate more shots so we can capitalize in our attacking end. We are committed to finding ways to get better before our next game against Mount St. Mary's."
 
KEY MOMENT

• The game was tied at seven at the half before Merrimack scored the first four goals out of the break to build an 11-7 advantage with 13:22 remaining in the contest. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Merrimack jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 5:55, prompting a Red Flash timeout.
• Junior Catherine Russo and senior Amanda Heidt scored just over a minute apart to get SFU back within 3-2 with 23:26 remaining in the opening half.
• The Warriors would push the advantage to three again before a stretch of three straight Red Flash goals, with two from McHenry and one from Scott – assisted by senior Sam Scott – tied the game 5-5 with 15:10 to play in the half.
• Merrimack would move back in front by one twice more in the opening half, but Emileigh Scott answered both times, helping ensure a seven-all tie at the break.
• The Warriors scored the first four goals of the second half and held the Red Flash off the board for the first 16:51 out of the locker room to build an 11-7 advantage.
• McHenry and Heidt scored to get back within 11-9 and Russo answered a Merrimack tally to bring the deficit to 12-10 with 6:25 to play, but it was the closest the Red Flash would come the rest of the way.

STATS

• McHenry (3), Emileigh Scott (3), Heidt (2), and Russo (2) all contributed multi-goal efforts.
• Sam Scott and redshirt senior Livia Baker provided two assists each.
• Senior Katie Page recorded two caused turnovers to add to LeConte's four and one each from Emileigh Scott and sophomore Kelly Dickson.
• LeConte recorded three draw controls and freshman Danielle Hernandez added two. The Warriors held a 14-12 advantage on the draw with a 9-2 imbalance in favor of the hosts in the second half.
• SFU had 22 turnovers in the contest, while Merrimack committed 19.
• Junior Elyssa Enrique recorded six saves.

GAME NOTES

• Saint Francis drops to 0-1 all-time against Merrimack.
• The game was Merrimack's first Northeast Conference contest. The Warriors began their reclassification to Division I in 2020 and played a non-conference schedule last year before the season's early end.

UP NEXT 
The Red Flash returns home for its next three games, beginning Wednesday at DeGol Field against Mount St. Mary's. The contest has been moved to a 2 p.m. start and can be seen on NEC Front Row. Attendance is limited to Saint Francis student-athlete guests and holders of an active Saint Francis ID.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.