After CCSU scored the game's first goal, the Red Flash scored the following 12 goals, including nine in the first quarter, to take control of the match.
Givens scored the first two Saint Francis goals of the game at 13:38 and 11:56 before Patten (10:09) and Lacey (8:50) found the back of the net for a 4-1 lead. Roncarati posted consecutive scores at 7:18 and 6:38 before Lacey (5:04), Delbone (1:20), and Hewitt (0:21) wrapped up the scoring in the first quarter.Â
FLASH MOMENTS
Roncarati started a five-goal second quarter off an assist by Hewitt at 14:34. Mahmud (11:35) and Roncarati (8:20) twinkled the twine to cap a 12-0 run by the Flash.
Delbone scored unassisted at 5:18, and then the freshman set up Hewitt at 2:18 to give Saint Francis a 14-2 lead at the break.
Patten scored unassisted at 10:35, and
Nancy Alden registered her first goal of the year at 6:39 for the only two goals in the third quarter.
Patten started the scoring in the fourth off a feed by Lacey at 13:35, and then Patten set up Lacey at 11:44. Patten (9:37, 3:01), Roncarati (5:43), and Hewitt (0:44) rounded out the scoring in a 22-2 victory.
Lani Filoon notched her first collegiate assist on Patten's final tally while Patten set up Hewitt for the game's final score.
FLASH NUGGETS
Espino, who had a career-high 10 draws against St. Bonaventure on April 23, 2022, needed five draws to hit the 100 mark in the category and finished the game with nine, sitting at 104 career draw controls in eighth place. The senior also moved into 10th place on the program's career ground ball list with 84.Â
Patten and Roncarati become the second and third players this season to have a five-goal game, joining Lacey, who had a career-high seven tallies against Duquesne on February 22 in the team's other win this season. Patten nearly doubled her season goal mark after coming into the game with five tallies, and the seven points were one point less than she had total in her first two seasons. Patten also had a career-high four ground balls.
It was the second time Roncarati has scored at least four goals this season after scoring four tallies in the win against Duquesne. She has 16 goals and two assists for 18 points in her senior year.
Givens added three ground balls and three caused turnovers. It is the third time in her career that she has recorded three caused miscues.
Taylor Coughlin made four saves and did not allow double digits in goals for the first time this season and the ninth time in her career. The senior has 243 career saves, seven saves from moving into sixth place on the all-time career chart.
It was the third time in program history the team had held an opponent to record two goals and the second time in NEC history. The Red Flash also kept Howard to two goals on March 29, 2023, in an NEC game and Delaware State on March 17, 2013, in a non-conference tilt.Â
Saint Francis won the NEC opener for the fourth time in team history and the first since the 2017 season. The Red Flash defeated Wagner 13-12 in overtime on March 19, 2010, LIU 10-9 in double overtime on April 4, 2014, and Wagner 10-9 on April 7, 2017, for the other three wins to open league play. The victory in 2017 was also the only time the squad won on the road to open the NEC slate.Â
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action when its NEC home opener against Wagner on March 22. Game time is 1 p.m. The tilt against the Seahawks starts a five-game homestand for the Flash.
