WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Bella Fisher posted five goals, three assists, and a career-high 11 draw controls to help Saint Francis defeat Howard 20-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) women's lacrosse action on Wednesday.
>> Fisher made a bit of history on the day. With her first score of the day, the sophomore became the 13th player in program history to reach 100 points in her career. The 11 draws are the second-most in single-season history, and the eight points are the eighth-most in single-season history.
>> Danielle Hernandez (New Fairfield, Conn.) made some history of her own with a career-high five assists in her final game at DeGol Field. The five helpers are the fourth most in single-season history and the second time she has reached the total in her career.
>> Lizzie Fisher (Hagerstown, Md.) added four goals in her final game at DeGol Field.
>> The Red Flash needed a win and a Stonehill loss to host an NEC Quarterfinal game on Sunday, April 28. The possibility was alive through three quarters, with Merrimack holding a 12-7 lead before the Skyhawks scored seven goals in the fourth quarter to come away with the 14-13 win and the chance to host Saint Francis on Sunday in Massachusetts.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With the score tied at 2, Saint Francis went on a 13-0 run over 17 minutes and 29 seconds to help put the game away. Tori Petrie (Whitney Point, N.Y.) gave the Red Flash the lead it would not relinquish off a pass from Hernandez with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.

Victoria DiRenno (Suffern, N.Y.) started an 11-0 second quarter first off a connection with Hernandez at 12:37 and then on an 8-meter shot 13 seconds later. Julia Givens (Elverson, Pa.) posted a marker at 10:12 left in the second quarter before Bella Fisher found Lizzie Fisher at 9:52 and then converted an 8-meter chance at 9:08. After Givens fed Lacey at 8:51, Givens found the back of the net herself at 7:44 for a 10-2 lead.

Bella Fisher scored the following two goals, with the first coming off a feeder from DiRenno at 7:36 and then unassisted 10 seconds later. Christina Roncarati (East Longmeadow, Mass.) posted a tally at 4:40 before Lizzie Fisher ended the scoring in the first half with three seconds left. Bella Fisher started the second half scoring off a pass from Givens at 12:59 for a 15-2 advantage.

FLASH QUOTE
"It was a good all-around team win today. I'm happy that the seniors finished their playing careers at home by ringing the bell one last time. This senior class has given us so many memorable moments, but their enduring legacy will be establishing a winning lacrosse tradition." – head coach Tracy Coyne on the game

"Now that Howard is behind us, we can fully focus on preparing for the NEC Tournament. Our goal is to do our very best to prepare to win a championship." – Coyne on the tournament

FLASH MOMENTS
DiRenno completed her first career hat trick at 6:23 in the third quarter, and Lacey twinkled the twine off a pass from Bella Fisher with 67 seconds left in the frame for a 17-3 margin.

Elizabeth Mahmud (Downingtown, Pa.) started the scoring in the final quarter with a feed by Hernandez at 10:59 before Bella Fisher connected with Lacey again at 8:57. Hernandez notched her career-best fifth assist on a Lizzie Fisher tally in the waning seconds of the match. 

Bella Fisher scored the team's first goal of the game at 11:13 in the first quarter to reach 100 points for her career. Lizzie Fisher handed the Flash a 2-1 edge off Hernandez's first helper of the day at 10:25 in the first quarter.

FLASH NUGGETS
Bella Fisher becomes the 13th player in team history with 100 points and the second player to accomplish the feat this season after Hernandez turned the trick at St. Bonaventure. She sits in 11th place with 107 career points. With her five goals, she also moves into the top 10 in career goals with 84 goals. Fisher also moved to one draw control to become the seventh player in team history with 100 draws in her career and would be the sixth player to have 100 points and 100 draw controls.

The sophomore also made some moves on the single-season chart, moving into sixth place in points (59), sixth in draw controls (60), and ninth in goals (42). Bella Fisher also had 42 tallies in her freshman year. In addition, she became the ninth different player in team history to register at least eight points in a game.

Hernandez also had five assists against Stonehill on April 1, 2023, in Loretto. She has two four-helper games in her career and is now one assist away from becoming the fifth player in team history with 60 career assists. Hernandez moved into eighth place with 131 career points with her five helpers. 

Just like Bella Fisher, Hernandez moves up the single-season list. With 24 assists this season, she is tied for third place. Hernandez is only the second player in team history to have two seasons with at least 24 assists after dishing out 26 helpers last season.

Lizzie Fisher recorded her third game this season with at least four goals, the fifth time in her career. She has 70 goals and 22 assists for 92 points.

After scoring a single goal in three of her last five games, DiRenno had her first career hat trick and collegiate assist on Wednesday. The junior also had four draw controls.

Lacey notched her third hat trick of the season and fourth of her career. Givens had four points for the third time this season and the fifth time in her career. The two assists tie her career high.

Bella Burke (East Moriches, N.Y.) led the team with two caused turnovers. With those two caused miscues, the sophomore becomes the eighth player in team history with 50 caused turnovers and sixth on the season chart with 24 caused turnovers. 

For the seventh time this season, the Red Flash held an opponent to single digits, and the four goals allowed were the season's best. It is the 10th time the team has allowed four goals or less in team history and the second time in league play. Last year, the Saint Francis 19-2 win at Howard was the lowest total for the team in NEC play. Taylor Coughlin (Hespeler, Ontario) had four saves in the winning effort.

It was the first time this season and 10th time in team history the team has scored 20 goals in a match.

With the win, Saint Francis secured its second-straight non-losing season with an 8-7 record. The Red Flash will also participate in the NEC Tournament for the second consecutive season.

NEXT UP
Saint Francis returns to action at No. 4 Stonehill on Sunday. The Skyhawks defeated the Red Flash 19-7 on April 20 in Massachusetts.