>> Despite the win, the Red Flash was eliminated from playoff contention after Fairfield defeated Stonehill, 4-2, and LIU defeated Sacred Heart, 1-0. Saint Francis needed one of those teams to lose in order to clinch a postseason berth.
Merrimack tied the game at 1 at the 22:08 mark, but Kirsch, with the help of Myers, regained the lead for Saint Francis two minutes and 24 seconds later, and then the Red Flash would score three more goals in the final game at DeGol Field.
"I couldn't have done it without my supportive teammates and amazing coaches. It's been awesome. Everyone has been supportive. My team has been great, and they have made my college life so much fun."
FLASH MOMENTS
Butz got the scoring started with a goal two minutes and 20 seconds into the match.
Hager, who had the game-winner against Lock Haven on October 13, recorded her second goal of the season to start the second-half scoring at the 32:31 mark.
Waldspurger hit the back of the cage for the seventh time this season at 43:41, and Myers capped the 5-1 win with feeders from Kirsch and
Sofia Marciano, the current NEC Rookie of the Week, at 47:22.
FLASH NUGGETS
Kirsch appeared in 40 games with 16 starts, had six career shots before knocking one in on the final regular season game of the year, and had her first career helper.
Myers, who started the season by assisting the game-winning goal against Ball State for her first collegiate point, finished her first season in Loretto with her first three-point performance to post two goals and two assists for six points.
Waldspurger finished the season with the most goals in her career (7) and the second most assists (6) for a career-high 19 points. The junior has 14 goals and 12 assists for 40 points to move into ninth place in program history in career points.
Butz registered her third career goal, but first at home. She has three goals and six assists for 12 points in her career.
Consu de Castro finished the season with 11 goals and two assists for 24 points. The 11 goals are the seventh most in single-season program history.
Dolores Zavaleta came into the game with 10 goals and 18 assists for 38 points, one assist, and two points shy of the program's Top-10 in each category.
Zavaleta, Kirsch,
Haley Connor,
Riley Kromer,
Ami Mattingly, and
Brooke Benson and
Amber Bryan played in their last game at DeGol Field.
Saint Francis registered 10 wins for the second straight season and the sixth time in program history, with all five previous occasions happening in the 13 years. The other teams to win double figures are 2014 (14-3), 2012 (12-6), 2016 (11-9), 2015 (10-7) and 2023 (10-8). The Red Flash has already clinched its third consecutive and eighth overall non-losing season. Along with the teams that won at least 10 games, the 2013 squad went 8-8.
The Red Flash won five NEC games for the third straight year and the fourth time in program history.
