VILLANOVA, PA. –  After completion of day two in Wildcat territory, the Saint Francis University Water Polo team picked up two more wins to end the Villanova Invitational 3-1. SFU slid by Salem, taking a 10-9 victory and defeated the Keydets 16-12.  

Saint Francis 10, Salem 9
 
This is the third win over Salem this season for Saint Francis. The Tigers fought hard, keeping the score close all four quarters, but not before the Red Flash were able to hold on to the lead to secure the win. This put Saint Francis at 4-7 on the season leading into the last matchup of the weekend.
 
After the first quarter, both teams only found the back of the next once to keep a 1-1 tie going into the second. At halftime, SFU lead the Tigers by one, 5-4. The third quarter added three more for SFU to put them at a three-goal lead (8-5) heading into the final quarter. The final stretch included a surge from the Tigers, tallying four, but not before SFU notched two more to ultimately give them the 10-9 win.
 

• SFU shot a total 26 times, coming from seven different players in all four quarters of play.
• Six of those players recorded goals for SFU.
• Six players tallied points for SFU, with Abbie Carter tallying three.
• Sophomore Abbie Carter was SFU's leading scorer of the game with three. Sophomore's Haiden Lang and Taylor Halbauer tied for the second top scorer spot, each finding the back of the net twice.
• Sophomore Addison Williams and freshman Jenna Handali each recorded an assist for SFU.
• Four Red Flash players tallied steals vs. the Tigers. Freshman Emese Szucs tallied two in her efforts against the Tigers.
• SFU had three players notch a block each. These came from Carter, Halbauer, and Handali.
• Halbauer lead the Red Flash in turnovers with two, while four others tallied one each.
• Sophomore Heather Jacobson was in front of the net for all four quarters for SFU a total 32 minutes played, recording eight saves (.357%) and nine goals allowed against Salem. Jacobson also notched an exclusion in her hard-fought efforts.

Saint Francis 16, VMI 12
 
SFU kept a strong lead until going into the second half where they lead VMI 11-6. This was the Red Flash's first win over VMI and gave them a 3-1 weekend.
 

• SFU took 30 shots at the goal and converted 16 of them.
• Halbauer and Szucs were SFU's leading scorer with six goals from Taylor and five from Emese goals each.
• Williams and Handali were tied for the second top scorers of the match with two each.
• Four Red Flash recorded assists with Handali notching two.
• Eight Red Flash tallied steals with Szucs notching three.
• Handali was the only player for SFU to tally a block in all four quarters.
• Six SFU players tallied turnovers, with Handali getting four.
• Rivera and sophomore Haley Sanko shared time in front of the goal. Sanko allowed two goals and Rivera allowed 10. Rivera as well though tallied 11 saves during all four quarters.

UP NEXT
SFU will be back in action next weekend when they hit the road once more to two different locations on Saturday and Sunday. The Red Flash will be in Lewisburg, PA. on Saturday to take on a conference matchup vs. #20 Bucknell at 2:30 pm and La Salle at 5:30 pm. They then head back to Villanova on Sunday to take on Gannon at 9:30 am and rematch Villanova at 2:30 pm.

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