Loretto, Pa.- Saint Francis women's soccer suffered their first home defeat of 2024 in a 2-0 loss to Duquesne on Thursday afternoon. 

"Credit to Duquesne. They were better than us today." Saint Francis head coach Brian Diaz said. "They presented some unique challenges that we haven't seen yet.".

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> The Red Flash registered four shots in the game. 

>> Emma Sawich made a career-high 12 saves in the contest. 

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME

The Dukes opened the scoring in the 15th minute on a goal from a Brianna Moore header. 

Duquesne doubled their lead with a Margey Brown goal in the 57th minute. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Neither team was able to generate much momentum in the opening minutes of the contest. 

The first real threat came in the 10th minute from a through ball that found the feet of Duquesne's Brianna Moore. Rory Schaeffer made an excellent tackle to shut down the opportunity. Schaeffer made another great play when she beat Moore in a footrace towards a threatening ball. 

After Duquesne's opener, Sawich made three saves in as many minutes, headlined by a diving save on a Kayla Leseck shot. 

Sawich was at it again in the 38th minute with an excellent diving play to cut off a dangerous Duquesne through ball. 

Coming out of the half, the Red Flash went right on the attack. Lily Cornwell fired the first shot of the game for Saint Francis, but it was saved. 

Just a few minutes later, Sawich stepped up again with a save on a shot from Margey Brown, who has been one of the nation's top goal scorers so far in 2024. 

In the 51st minute, Raine Korpics and Rita Kendziora had an excellent passing exchange that led to a Kendziora shot that was saved. 

Now down by two, Saint Francis nearly found a goal in the 73rd minute on a screamer of a shot by Alyssa Mella that was denied only by the crossbar. The rebound found the head of Maridza Desir, whose header required an impossible save by the goalie to keep out. 

Duquesne controlled much of the possession in the remainder of the game to seal their victory. 

FLASH NUGGETS

Sawich's 12-save performance was the first time Saint Francis has hit double digits in that stat this season. The last time the Red Flash made at least 10 saves in a match was on Sept. 17, 2023 against Central Connecticut State. 

With one shot taken in the match, Korpics has now registered at least one shot in all but one match this season. It is the fifth match in a row that she has taken at least one shot.

"I thought we had a good start but we just couldn't sustain it." Diaz said. "This is a great learning moment for us. It's a great opportunity for us to grow and get better and prepare for conference play.".

NEXT UP
The Red Flash wrap up non-conference play with a road match against Akron on Sunday Sept. 15 at 2:00 p.m.