BOX SCORE CLEMSON, S.C. – Saint Francis University lost to No. 7 Clemson University in the women's soccer season-opener for both teams on Thursday.

Sarah McConnon (Springfield, Pa./Lower Merion Club) and Emma Sawich (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), who both played in their first regular season collegiate games, made seven combined saves in the loss. The sophomore McConnon made her collegiate debut in the starting lineup in between the pipes and turned away four shots in 45 minutes, while Sawich also saw her first collegiate action with three stops in 45 minutes of work. 

Saint Francis registered one shot in the first half and three scoring chances in the second half for a total of four shots on the night.  

Colletta Ozbey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) was turned away in the fifth minute for the Red Flash's only scoring chance in the opening frame.  In the second half, Lauren Pyle (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) missed high in the 54th minute and Jaela House (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) had her scoring chance blocked by the Tigers defense in the 83rd minute. Paige Theobald (Tinton Falls N.J./Red Bank Catholic) produced Saint Francis' other shot on goal, but her opportunity was stopped by the Clemson netminder in the 78th minute. 

The Red Flash were playing in their first contest in 655 days after the 2020-21 season was canceled due to CoVID-19. The team features 18 freshman and sophomores that will be seeing their first collegiate action in 2021. 

Clemson scored seven times in the first half and once in the second stanza for an 8-0 win in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. 

The Red Flash return to Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 22 to take on the Dukes of Duquesne in Pittsburgh. Match time is 7 p.m. Saint Francis will then make its 2021 home debut on Thursday, August 26 against Akron.