WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Dolores Zavaleta (San Juan, Argentina) scored in the 53rd minute to lift Saint Francis past Rider 3-2 in the Northeast Conference field hockey opener for both teams on Friday.
>> Eva Valentini (Junin, Argentina) and Claudia Ortiz (Madrid, Spain) also scored for the Red Flash.
>> Amber Bryan (Thorndale, Pa.) made three saves in the first 30 minutes and Chloe South (California, Md.) made two saves in the final 30 minutes to earn her second win of the year.
>> Saint Francis opens up the NEC schedule with a win for the first time since 2012, the squad's last season in the NEC before returning last season.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Four of the five goals on the afternoon were scored off a penalty corner setup. The Red Flash had the final one when Zavaleta nailed the back of the cage off a Eugenia Kenny (Buenos Aires, Argentina) feeder at the 52:54 mark. The Broncs had two penalty corners and a shot that went wild in the final seven minutes and six seconds of the match, but could not even the score.

FLASH MOMENTS
Valentini got the scoring started on the day when she converted a shot off feeders from Julia Breneman (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) and Ella Maillie (Reading, Pa.) at the 19:37 mark for a 1-0.
 
After the two teams went into halftime tied at 1, Ortiz regained the lead for the Red Flash at the 36:06 mark.
 
Rider would tie the game 72 seconds later, but Kenny had the final say for the Red Flash to propel the squad to the win.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
Zavaleta's tally was the first of her career after registering four assists last season. She now has a goal and four helpers for six points in her career.
 
Valentini leads the team with six goals and two assists for 14 points this season and has 14 tallies and eight assists for 36 points in her career. The sophomore needs one point to join the program's all-time career list for points.
 
Ortiz notched her first score of the season and increases her career totals to seven goals and four assists for 18 points.
 
Breneman has a team-best five assists this season and has six goals and five assists for 17 points in her two-year career. Maillie notched her first assist of the year to go along with four assists last year for five points, while Kenny added her first helper in 2022 and third of her career.
 
South has registered both wins this season in relief.
 
With the win, the Red Flash ended a five-game losing streak after the team picked up its first victory of 2022 against Holy Cross on September 4. The squad also ended a five-game skid to Rider.
 
Saint Francis won the first game of the NEC schedule for the third time in the 14 years in the league and the third time at DeGol Field.
 
NEXT GAME
The Red Flash return to action at Central Michigan on Sunday. Game time is 12 p.m.