WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>> Saint Francis defeats Mercyhurst 5-0 in NEC field hockey on Sunday for Senior Day.
>>> Mia DiGenova records her ninth shutout of the year.
>>> Sofia Marciano posted her second hat trick of the season.
>>> With today's win, the Red Flash officially clinched a spot in the NEC Playoffs for the first time since the 2023 season.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
The game's pivotal moment occurred following a quiet first quarter for Saint Francis. That all changed when sophomore forward Kylee Hager scored, putting the Red Flash on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, giving her team a lead it never relinquished.
FLASH MOMENTS
Just before the halftime buzzer, sophomore midfielder Marciano demonstrated her scoring ability once more, netting a shot past the Lakers' goalkeeper to give Red Flash a 2-0 lead. Her offensive streak continued shortly after, as she launched a powerful shot into the goal early in the fourth quarter, marking her 16th goal of the season and increasing Saint Francis's lead to 3-0.
Hager's vicious sweeping stick reappeared early in the fourth quarter, sneaking one past the Lakers' defense off the helper from senior defensive midfielder Chloe Butz to increase the Red Flashes' lead 4-0.
If she wasn't on the score sheet enough, Marciano scored one more time within the final 15 minutes to notch her 16th goal of the year and to put the Red Flash 5-0.
FLASH NUGGETS
With Marciano's three goals, she now totals 16 goals this season and 19 overall in her career. This ranks her third for most goals in a single season and seventh on the all-time career list.
Cruz Cánepa also had a notable day, with three assists that contributed to the Red Flashes' scoring. This performance tied Nikki Snyder's record of 14 career assists in a season. Additionally, that trio of helpers helped the sophomore notch her 21st career assist, moving her into fourth place for most career assists in program history. While all of that is impressive on its own, she is now the only player in program history to record three assists in a game three times.
As the buzzer hit zero in the fourth quarter, it came as no surprise to anyone that Mia "The Fort" DiGenova had shut out yet another team this season, making Mercyhurst her ninth victim of the year in the 5-0 victory against the Lakers.
The Red Flash are now one win behind the program record for wins after the 2014 team finished 14-3. The seven conference wins also sets a new program standard for league wins. The 2012 won six games in the NEC and the 2014 team win six games in the Atlantic-10 to hold the previous mark.
Prior to the game, Saint Francis recognized seniors Butz, Emilee Myers, Grace Reed and Madison Waldspurger.
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis hits the road for its last two regular season games, starting at New Haven on Friday. Game time is 12 p.m.
