LEWISBURG, PA. – The Saint Francis water polo team begins its spring 2022 season Saturday and Sunday in Lewisburg, Pa with four games at the Bucknell Invite.
The Red Flash will be playing against St. Francis Brooklyn, VMI, Gannon University, and Mount St. Mary's.

The Event: Bucknell Invite
Location: Kinney Natatorium (Lewisburg, Pa.)

Game 1: Saint Francis vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Date and Time: Saturday, Jan. 29 – 11:40 a.m.


Game 2: Saint Francis vs VMI
Date and Time: Saturday, Jan. 29 – 6:20 p.m.


Game 3: Saint Francis vs. Gannon
Date and Time: Sunday, Jan. 30 – 12 p.m.


Game 4: Saint Francis vs. Mount St. Mary's
Date and Time: Sunday, Jan. 30 – 4 p.m.


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SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
Saint Francis Brooklyn last played during the 2020 season where they finished with a 2-14 overall record. Emma Leto led the Terriers with 24 goals in 2020 while Tate Renata scored 16 goals along with 11 assists and both recorded a double-digit steals season. The duo returns for St. Francis Brooklyn in 2022.

The Red Flash and Terriers met once in 2019 with St. Francis Brooklyn winning 12-6 at Brown.

SCOUTING THE KEYDETS
VMI was 6-12 in 2021 with a 3-6 record in the MAAC. The Keydets were 2-3 on the season in one-score games in 2021. VMI lost to Marist College 13-10 in the MAAC Championship Game to finish their season.
Sydney Shettleroe returns after leading VMI with 67 points in 2021. Genevieve Petrassi contributed 40 assists for the Keydets, who outshot opponents by an average of nearly seven shots per game.
Saint Francis battled VMI in 2021 as the Red Flash were able to win 16-12. Taylor Halbauer recorded six goals and Emese Szucs added five more goals to help lead Saint Francis to the win.


SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon was 4-14 overall in 2021 with a 1-5 record in the Western Water Polo Association. The Golden Knights fell short in the semifinals against Salem University 18-6.
Nicole Wiemken returns for her senior campaign after leading Gannon with 55 goals and 75 points in 2021. Julia Kreidinger also returns for the Golden Knights after putting up 41 points and leading the team in steals with 23.
Saint Francis was able to face Gannon in 2021 with the Red Flash escaping with an 8-6 victory. Abbie Carter led Saint Francis with 3 points coming off of 3 total assists, while Taylor Halbauer had a two-goal performance against the Golden Knights.

SCOUTING THE MOUNT
Mount St. Mary's finished 2021 with a 0-15 overall record and 0-6 in conference, with 2021 being the team's first year in existence.
The Mount welcomes back Ana Luisa Cotta for her sophomore season as she led the squad with 18 goals in her first year. Madison Szczublewski also returns for the Mount after tallying a team-high 17 assists in 2021.
The Red Flash squared off against the Mount four times in 2021 with Saint Francis posting a 4-0 record against the newly established water polo team. In those meetings the Red Flash outscored Mount St. Mary's 70-20.

THE 2022 RED FLASH
Saint Francis returns its top two scorers in Taylor Halbauer (52 goals, 11 assists) and Emese Szucs (50 goals, 21 assists). The Red Flash have to replace a duo of graduating goalies as freshmen Grace Raquel and Isabel Lumley will be tasked with the duties in net.


The Red Flash returns double-digit scorers such as Addison Williams (29 goals, 21 assists), Julia Bradford (19 goals, 14 assists), and Abbie Carter (16 goals, 16 assists).

There will be eight new freshmen joining the Red Flash Water Polo team looking to make an immediate impact in the water.

Saint Francis finished the 2021 season with a successful run in the CWPA coming in third place by beating Mount St. Mary's in the consolation game 17-1.


NEXT UP
Saint Francis will head back into the pool next weekend as they take part in the Brown Invite. They will face schools such as Marist College, Wagner College, LIU, and Siena College.


Follow Saint Francis Water Polo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.

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