WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Matching its best start in program history with three wins to start the season, Saint Francis field hockey lost for the first time in 2023 on Saturday after a 3-1 decision at Miami (Ohio) at the Theresa Check Invitational on Saturday.
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Dolores Zavaleta (San Juan, Argentina) scored her second goal of the season, while
Madison Waldspurger (Hatfield, Pa.) registered the assist on the play.
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Chloe South (California, Md.) made three saves in the first half and
Amber Bryan (Thorndale, Pa.), the current Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week, turned away three shots in the final 30 minutes.
>> With the loss, the Red Flash are off to its second best start in program history, matching the 2012 team that also started 3-1. The 2014 squad has the best start in program history with eight-consecutive wins to open a campaign.
TURNING POINTS
Miami (Ohio) scored three goals in the first 26:04 of the game and in a span of 11 minutes and seven seconds to take the lead it would not relinquish.
FLASH MOMENTS
Zavaleta got the Loretto program on the scoreboard off an assist from Waldspurger at 50:34. It was the first time since 2019 the Red Flash registered a tally against Miami (Ohio) in a match.
FLASH NUGGETS
Zavaleta, who scored a goal in the 6-0 season-opening win against Queens on August 25, posted her second score of the season. The junior now has four goals and 10 assists for 18 points in her career. She has registered all four of her tallies in non-conference play and seven of her 10 helpers in conference action.
Waldspurger has a goal and an assist in 2023 and registered points in consecutive games for the second time in her career. She also had points in back-to-back games as a freshman when she had a hat trick against Central Michigan on October 2, 2022 and a tally against Wagner five days later.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis, who is in the midst of five games in eight days, wraps up the Theresa Check Invitational with the second-ever meeting against Indiana on Sunday. Match time is 12 p.m.
