FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Amanda Heidt scored four goals, including the game-winner with under two minutes to play, as the Saint Francis women's lacrosse team won for the fourth time in five games in a 13-11 thriller Saturday at Campus Field.
 
The Red Flash broke its program mark for conference victories, capturing its fourth NEC win within the window of the typical seven-game league slate. Senior Emileigh Scott and freshman Danielle Hernandez added three goals each, while junior Autumn McHenry recorded a four-point afternoon. An eight-draw control effort from redshirt senior Peyton LeConte helped the Red Flash to a 14-11 advantage on the draw.
 
Saint Francis 13, Sacred Heart 11
Records: Saint Francis (4-4, 4-3 NEC); Sacred Heart (2-6, 2-5 NEC)
Location: Campus Field (Fairfield, Conn.)
 

Amanda Heidt: Ground ball, game-winner, goodnight.

🔴⚡️ pic.twitter.com/LSWO2o6ZHl

— Saint Francis Women's Lacrosse (@RedFlashLax) April 3, 2021

COACH COYNE'S COMMENTS
"What an awesome win. We had to dig deep and fight hard to come away with the victory. We spend a lot of time in practice working on end-of-game situations and that paid off for us today. Our man-down defense played tough and forced a turnover with under three minutes on the clock. That defensive stance put us in a position to win.

"Amanda is an excellent finisher. She took advantage of being in the right spot and nailed the game-winner. Danielle was also clutch again against SHU. Peyton's game was on fire. She was all over the place. Her play on the draw circle was a big factor in the win. Katie Page also did an amazing job shutting down one of their top scoring threats and Elyssa made a few point-blank saves in the last 15 minutes that stopped SHU's momentum. Sometimes little things you do make a big impact. Autumn's draw control after Amanda's game winner pretty much sealed the victory.

"This team is all in and they proved it again today with a gutsy win."

KEY MOMENTS

• Saint Francis scored four straight goals out of a timeout to lead 5-1 with 16 minutes to play in the opening half.
• The Pioneers tied the game at seven early in the second half before the Red Flash answered with three straight. Sacred Heart would respond with three goals to pull even at 10 with 16 minutes remaining in the contest and take an 11-10 lead with under eight minutes to play.
• The Red Flash scored the final three goals of the contest, with Heidt's game-winner coming off a ground ball from a save with under two minutes to play.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Redshirt senior Livia Baker scored 92 seconds into the contest on a free-position opportunity for the first goal of the game.
• Coach Coyne took a timeout after the Pioneers tied the game and the Red Flash responded with the next four, as Scott's second of the afternoon prompted a Sacred Heart timeout with the Red Flash leading 5-1 with 16:01 to play in the first half. Scott's two goals in the stretch were joined by one each from Baker and Hernandez.
• Goals from Heidt and Hernandez made the Red Flash advantage 7-3 before Sacred Heart scored the next three to pull within one at 7-6 with 7:59 to play in the opening half.
• A Pioneer goal 4:10 into the second half tied the game at seven before a Scott goal put the Red Flash back in front. A McHenry goal followed to give the Red Flash a 9-7 advantage with 24:35 remaining.
• Heidt added a goal with 18:27 to play to put Saint Francis in front 10-7, which led to a Sacred Heart timeout.
• The Pioneers scored on a free-position opportunity out of the timeout to get back within two and tied the game at 10 with 15:58 to go.
• A goal late in the shot clock put the Pioneers in front for the first time in the contest at 11-10 with 7:41 remaining.
• Hernandez tallied the equalizer with 4:53 to play to bring the teams even at 11.
• A McHenry shot was saved by the Pioneers' Bella Beaton and ricocheted to in front of Heidt, who scooped the ground ball and fired it past the Sacred Heart goalie for the go-ahead goal with 1:48 to play.
• A Hernandez caused turnover led to an opportunity to finish off the game with Heidt's fourth of the day as time expired.

STATS

• Heidt added to her four-goal effort with three ground balls, including the one that led to the game-winning goal.
• Sophomore Kelly Dickson collected three ground balls and two caused turnovers, while LeConte added two of each to her eight-draw control performance.
• McHenry recorded all three of SFU's assists.
• Hernandez and Scott both scored on all three of their shots on goal.
• Junior Elyssa Enrique recorded 12 saves.
• The Red Flash held a 14-11 advantage on draws.
• Saint Francis was 6-for-8 on free-position shots. The Red Flash are 27-of-50 (.540) on the year.

GAME NOTES

• Saint Francis improves to 4-16 all-time against Sacred Heart and has won the last four meetings.
• LeConte moved to within six caused turnovers of 100 for her career. She surpassed the 100-draw control mark last Saturday vs. Merrimack.
• The Red Flash's 4-3 mark through seven conference games is one better than the 3-4 final league record in 2018.

UP NEXT 
Saint Francis returns home to host Wagner on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at DeGol Field. Attendance is limited to the home team guest list and holders of an active Saint Francis ID. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row.
 
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.