WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis women's soccer battled with Mercyhurst, but ended in a 1-all draw in NEC action Thursday evening.
>> Evangelia Barakos scored her first career goal with 20 seconds remaining on the clock in the first half. 
>> Emma Sawich recorded seven saves for the Red Flash.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Saint Francis and Mercyhurst matched up Thursday evening at Stokes Soccerplex. Two minutes were left in the first half when the Lakers put a number on the board.

The Red Flash answered back with a goal of its own with 20 seconds remaining on the clock in the first half. A connection from Raine Korpics to Mercedez Paino led to a light tap in by Barakos, to make the score even before the last few seconds on the clock ran out. 

The second half, both teams battled making attempts to have a goal hit the back of the net but neither could execute, ending the game in a 1-all draw.

FLASH MOMENTS 
Riley Kerr had a big scoring opportunity at 17:08 as well as at 60:36, but both bounced off the goalie. 

Mercedez Paino had two big scoring opportunities at 18:38, but was saved by the Lakers' goalkeeper. 

Raine Korpics had two great chances to score at 22:05 and 82:08, but were saved by the goalkeeper of Mercyhurst. She had another chance in the second half at 60:03 but missed wide right of the goal.  

Riley Cerqua perfectly placed a corner kick that connected with the head of Caterina Schiavo at 38:56. The high ball was just in reach for the goalkeeper to save. 

Anouk Landgraff made an attempt of her own at 39:33, but landed in the hands of the keeper. 

Lauren Persichetty tried for her own in the final minute of the match but missed wide left.

FLASH NUGGETS
Barakos' goal marks her first career goal for Saint Francis. For the 2025 season so far, she has had two shots on goal with one hitting the back of the net. During the 2024 season, the sophomore recorded her first career assist and point on a game-winning goal against Niagara August 15th.

NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis will be on the road traveling to Teaneck, N.J., to take on FDU Sunday at 1 p.m.