>>Saint Francis lost to LIU in a hard-fought four periods, falling 18-10.
The Red Flash pushed to keep the game close, going into the fourth period down four at 14-10.
Grace Raquel (Naperville, Ill.) took over in net for
Isabel Lumley (Brisbane, Australia) in the fourth period, but she could not prevent the Sharks from scoring four goals, expanding their lead to 18-10.
FLASH MOMENTS
The Red Flash came out strong in the beginning of the game.
Emese Szucs (Budapest, Hungary) and
Caylah Olay (Redondo Beach, Calif.) each tallied a goal in the first three minutes of the game before the Sharks could get on the board.
Down 7-3, a late push in the second period by the Saint Francis offense narrowed the LIU lead to a manageable two goals. Sam Eschleman (Reading, Pa.) found the back of the net with 1:44 left in the first half. Almost one minute later, Olay recorded her second goal of the game to make the score 7-5.
In the last two minutes of the third period, the Red Flash outscored the Sharks 4-2. Olay scored with 1:57 left in the period to make the score 12-7 with Eschleman tallying another 40 seconds after to keep LIU still within five goals at 13-8. The Sharks scored another goal, but Szucs and Eschleman responded with two more goals, narrowing the score to 14-10 going into the final frame.
FLASH NUGGETS
Eschleman led the team with four goals. Olay was right behind her with three.
Next was Szucs with two goals with Kayla Rhoads (Oceanside, Calif.) scoring a goal, as well.
UP NEXT
Saint Francis will head to Lewisburg, Pa. for the Bucknell Invite next weekend, facing Villanova, Bucknell, Wagner and Mount St. Mary's.