Niagara Falls, N.Y.- Saint Francis women's soccer opened up their 2024 campaign with a 2-1 win over Niagara on Thursday night. It is the program's first opening match win since 2012. 

"This team is special." Head Coach Brian Diaz said. "Today's performance showed we can do what we need to win." 

The win was Diaz's first as a Division I head coach. 

"We were really good in the first half and we were really scrappy in the second half." Diaz said. "This was a full team performance for 90 minutes. The team is rightfully very proud of how we have started the season." 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

>> Mercedez Paino netted a 16th minute goal for her first of the brand new season.  

>> Anouk Landgraff buried the game-winner in the 68th minute. 

>> Saint Francis tallied 11 shots in the contest. 

>> Raine Korpics posted two shots, both of which were on target. 

>> Emma Sawich made five saves on the evening. 

 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME 

Emma Bough opened the scoring in the 12th minute to put Niagara in front early. 

In the 16th minute, Paino received a great ball from Korpics and chipped a shot over the Niagara keeper to draw the Red Flash level at 1-1. 

Evangelia Barakos sent an excellent cross into the box that found Landgraff right in front of goal. Landgraff buried the chance to put Saint Francis ahead in the 68th minute. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Red Flash got some pressure early with a fifth minute corner kick. Tomke Dziesiaty put in a good ball and nearly connected with Lily Cornwell on the back post. Dziesiaty nearly found Korpics on a through ball just a few minutes later, but a Niagara defender won a footrace to the ball and saw it out for another corner. 

Korpics looked to answer Niagara's goal quickly with a long shot, but it was deflected by a Purple Eagles defender and landed in the arms of the keeper. 

Things were back even in the opening 20 minutes after Paino leveled the match with a chip shot in the 16th minute. 

Korpics tried to build upon the momentum of the equalizer and put the Red Flash ahead in the 23rd minute but could not convert the chance. 

With three minutes and change before the half, Lauren Pyle nearly found Daniëlle Goedhart with an ambitious through ball, but put a little too much on the pass. 

Just seconds later, Sawich charged out of the box to clear away a dangerous Niagara chance and keep the score level. 

Anika Berger had a go at goal with 40 seconds left in the half but was denied. 

In the 54th minute, Alyssa Mella made a nifty move inside from the left flank and tried to net her first career goal with a shot from a long way out, but the shot carried just wide. 

Sawich made an incredible diving save in the 65th minute to knock a dangerous shot off of the crossbar and out of harm's way. 

The Red Flash took their first lead of the season after Landgraff's 68th minute goal. 

In the 84th minute, Niagara had a dangerous counter attacking chance with a lot of open space, but Rory Schaeffer hustled back and halted the chance. Sawich made back to back crucial saves in the minutes that followed, including a jumping save in the 86th minute. 
 
Dziesiaty put a decent shot on net in the 88th minute but was denied by the keeper. 
 

FLASH NUGGETS 

Landgraff and Barakos both registered their first career points on Landgraff's 68th minute winner. 

Korpics tallied her first career assist on Paino's 16th minute goal. 

Mella and Cornwell registered their first career shots in the match.  

Mella, Cornwell and Joy Zeeman all made their first collegiate appearances and starts in the contest. Barakos, Landgraff and Layna Grassi made their collegiate debuts off the bench as well.  

Berger made her first appearance for the Red Flash, and Goedhart made her first appearance since Oct. 9, 2022. 
 

UP NEXT 
The Red Flash will head back to Loretto for their home opener against Iona on Saturday Aug. 18 at 1:00 p.m.