Saturday, April 19 | LIU | Brookville, N.Y. | Bethpage Federal Union Stadium | 11 a.m. |  LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

OPENING DRAW 
Saturday's game between Saint Francis and LIU marks the 21st meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 2003 campaign. The Red Flash is looking for its first win against the Sharks in Brookville and its first road win in the series since a 19-12 decision in 2013. LIU has won the last six matches. 

THE WORD ON THE SHARKS
LIU comes into the match 8-6 overall and 6-1 in NEC play after defeating Stonehill 11-9 on April 12. Erin Harkins paced the Sharks with two goals and one assist against the Skyhawks, while five players recorded two points in the first-place showdown. Julia Trainor paces the team with 25 goals and nine assists for 34 points. Selia Lyons has 10 goals and a team-leading 22 assists for 32 points, and Harkins is in third with 21 tallies and nine helpers for 30 points. Trainor also leads LIU in the three defensive categories: ground balls (33), caused turnovers (20), and draw controls (62). Mylie Norton has 97 saves, a 9.48 goals against average, and a .447 save percentage. 

LAST TIME WE MET
 Saint Francis lost 11-6 to LIU on March 9, 2024, in Loretto to open league play in 2024. Brooke Lacey fueled the Red Flash with three goals, and Bella Fisher found the twine twice. Olivia Fantigrossi and Ava Taylor paced the Sharks with hat tricks. Taylor Coughlin made eight saves for Saint Francis, and Lily Bilello made six stops for LIU.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION
Fueled by five goals by junior Mak Patten, Saint Francis defeated Delaware State 19-2 on April 12. Freshman Samantha Hewitt added four goals and an assist, while senior Nancy Alden (two goals, one assist) and Colleen Roche (three assists) each had three points on senior day. Senior Taylor Coughlin made 10 saves for the Red Flash. 

NEXT TIME OUT 
Saint Francis wraps up its regular season at Le Moyne on April 26 in what could be a match to decide the final NEC Tournament berth. 

WHERE WE STAND IN THE NEC
Saint Francis is 4-3 in NEC play with two games to go and currently sits in fifth place in the standings. However, Mercyhurst is sitting in the fourth spot but is ineligible for the postseason, so the Red Flash currently hold a one-game lead on the final playoff spot over Le Moyne, who is 3-4, while FDU and CCSU are 2-5. A Red Flash win at LIU and a Dolphins loss at Stonehill on Saturday would clinch the team's third straight NEC Tournament berth. If Saint Francis loses its last two, FDU wins its last two, and Le Moyne falls to Stonehill but defeats the Red Flash, it will come down to which team gives up the fewest goals in league play because Saint Francis would have beaten FDU, Le Moyne would have beaten Saint Francis, and FDU would have taken down Le Moyne to have all three teams sit in a three-way tie at 1-1. In this scenario, none of the three teams would have beaten the three teams ahead of them in the standings and would have defeated the bottom three teams. Saint Francis has allowed 54 goals, Le Moyne 55, and FDU 83. However, if Le Moyne defeats Stonehill and the Red Flash fall in the final two games, Le Moyne would earn the final spot in a two- or three-way tiebreaker. 

NEC STATS
Sophomore Elizabeth Garcia leads the NEC in ground balls (3.29) and caused turnovers (2.21). She also ranks eighth in the nation in ground balls and 14th in caused turnovers. Senior Taylor Coughlin leads the NEC in saves percentage (.453) and is second in goals against average (10.43), second in saves per game (8.64), ninth in ground balls (2.29), and 10th in caused turnovers (1.29). She is 29th in NCAA Division I in goals against average, 35th in saves per game, 36th in save percentage, and 72nd in ground balls. Senior Victoria DiRenno is third in draw controls (4.43) and 72nd in NCAA Division I. Junior Brooke Lacey ranks fourth in goals (2.23), fourth in points (2.92), and fourth in shots (5.62). Senior Chyler Espino ranks fifth in ground balls (2.50) and 10th in draw controls (3.29). Espino is 46th in the nation in ground balls. Freshman Samantha Hewitt is sixth in points (2.57) and ninth in assists (0.93). Junior Mak Patten sits fifth in points (2.64) and sixth in assists (1.00). Senior Christina Roncarati ranks seventh in goals (1.93) and eighth in points (2.43),

NEC HONORS
Freshman Samantha Hewitt paced the Saint Francis women's lacrosse offense. Sophomore Elizabeth Garcia powered the defense to a 3-0 week to earn recognition with a significant award from the Northeast Conference for April 7-13. Hewitt earns her third NEC Rookie of the Week honor, while Garcia receives her second NEC Defensive Player of the Week distinction. Hewitt posted 10 goals, five assists for 15 points, eight ground balls, and two caused turnovers in a 3-0 week for the Red Flash. The freshman notched four goals twice in the three games and for the third time this season. She gave Saint Francis the lead for good against Central Michigan in the first quarter on back-to-back goals on Monday and then helped put the game away with two goals in the third quarter to give Saint Francis its first win against the Chippewas in program history with a 10-8 victory. Hewitt then registered two goals and two assists in a 14-3 win against Howard on Wednesday and assisted the game's first two goals to get the Red Flash rolling.  The freshman capped her week with four goals and an assist in a 19-2 win against Delaware State on Saturday. Hewitt ranks third on the team with 23 goals (seventh most in Saint Francis freshman history) and 13 assists (second most in Saint Francis freshman history) for 36 points (sixth most in Saint Francis freshman history). She also ranks sixth in points in the NEC and eighth in assists. 

Garcia helped anchor the Red Flash defense that allowed 4.3 goals per game this week and stuffed the stat sheet with 15 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers, and nine draws to average 5.0 ground balls per game, 4.67 caused turnovers, and 3.0 draw controls per game. The sophomore posted three ground balls, four caused turnovers, and two draws against Central Michigan. She then had six ground balls, five caused turnovers and a career-high six draw against Howard before tallying six ground balls, five caused turnovers and a draw control against Delaware State. The five caused turnovers tied for second in single-game program history, something that has reached 12 times, but Garcia becomes the second player to do it three times in her career and the first to do it three times in the same season. In addition, she became the program's single-season leader in caused miscues with 31, while her 46 ground balls are fourth in the program's single-season history.  She leads the NEC in caused turnovers and ground balls overall and in league games. Through games on Thursday, Garcia ranked 13th in the nation in ground balls and 23rd in caused turnovers.

Hewitt becomes the third player in program history to earn NEC Rookie of the Week awards three times after earning the honor for February 17-23 (four goals and an assist in a win against Duquesne on February 22) and March 11-16 (three goals and an assist in victory against CCSU on March 15). Hewitt joins teammate Christina Roncarati (three times, 2022) and Bella Fisher (five times, 2023) as players to earn the top rookie weekly award three times.

Garcia also joins an exclusive club of players to earn multiple NEC Defensive Player of the Week awards after taking the honor for February 17-23 (Garcia registered four caused turnovers, five ground balls, and two draw controls against Duquesne). Garcia joins Peyton Le Conte (2021) and teammate Taylor Coughlin as players to earn the award twice in the same season, while it marks the fifth time a player has earned two or more honors in their career with Bella Burke (2023, 2024) and Elyssa Enrique (2022, 2023) earning the recognition once over two seasons. Enrique was in attendance at the match against Delaware State.

Along with Hewitt's three NEC Rookie of the Week honors and Garcia's two NEC Defensive Player of the Week awards, junior Brooke Lacey was named the NEC Player of the Week, for February 17-23, along with Hewitt and Garcia's first selections on the season. It was the third time the Red Flash has swept all three awards in the last three seasons. Lacey registered a career-high seven goals against Duquesne. Freshman Heather Delbone earned the NEC Rookie of the Week for February 10-16. Delbone registered three goals and an assist in her first two collegiate games of her career.

Garcia, Hewitt, Coughlin, and junior Mak Patten were named NEC Prime Performers for the Week.

Patten tallied eight goals and one assist for nine points and had seven ground balls against Howard to join the Top-10 in that category. She only had one goal against Central Michigan, but it was the game's first tally to start a 6-0 run for the Red Flash. She then scored the first goal of the game in a 14-3 win against Howard and added another goal, an assist, and seven ground balls, the 10th most in program history. The junior wrapped up her week by tying her career high with five goals against Delaware State. 

Coughlin posted 4.33 goals against average in a 3-0 week for the Red Flash. The junior made five saves, and two caused turnovers against Central Michigan, including a crucial save and a turnover in the final four minutes of the game against the Chippewas. She then had four saves and a career-high five caused turnovers (second most in program history) against Howard before recording 10 saves versus Delaware State. She leads the NEC in save percentage and ranks second in goals-against average and saves percentage.

Garcia and Patten now lead the team with three NEC Prime Performer selections. Coughlin and fellow senior Christina Roncarati have earned two NEC Prime Performers honors, while Lacey and junior Julia Givens each have one distinction. Patten had a goal and five assists in the opening week matches in Ohio (February 10-16) and then had a career-high five goals and two assists against CCSU (March 11-16) to accompany her performance this week. Garcia tallied seven ground balls and five caused turnovers in two games for the week of March 24-30, and during the two weeks, she was named the top defender of the week. Roncarati had four goals against Duquesne to earn the honor for February 17-23 and then matched Patten with five goals and two assists against the Blue Devils. Along with her performance this week, Coughlin posted 12 saves, a career-high six ground balls, and four caused turnovers against Wagner for March 17-24. Lacey earned her Prime Performer when she was the NEC Player of the Week, and Givens was named a Prime Performer for February 10-16 after tallying five goals, four caused turnovers, and three draw controls, including four goals against Youngstown State.

PRESEASON POLL
The Saint Francis women's lacrosse team has been tabbed to finish fifth, according to the Northeast Conference (NEC) preseason poll. LIU was selected as the unanimous preseason favorite, while Stonehill, Le Moyne, Wagner, Saint Francis, FDU, CCSU Delaware State, Mercyhurst, and Howard round out the 10-team poll. Mercyhurst is in its first year in the NEC.

A DAVID PUDDY HIGH-FIVE
Junior Brooke Lacey registered a career-high seven goals against Duquesne on February 22. Senior Christina Roncarati and junior Mak Patten each had a career-high five goals against CCSU on March 15. Patten turned the trick again against Delaware State on April 12. Junior Senior Nancy Alden was the other player on the roster to have at least a five-goal game coming into the season with her five-tally performance at Kent State on March 13, 2024.

HATTIES 
Junior Julia Givens leads the team with 10 career hat tricks, including a four-goal performance against Youngstown State on February 16. Junior Brooke Lacey has seven hat tricks in her career, while senior Nancy Alden has three hat tricks in their career. Senior Christina Roncarati has three after recording a four-goal performance in her freshman and senior campaigns and a career-high five goals against CCSU on March 15. Freshman Samantha Hewitt has four hat tricks this season, including three four-goal performances. Senior Mak Patten (five goals vs. CCSU) and freshman Heather Delbone (Charlotte, March 4) each have one hattie in 2025, while junior Victoria DiRenno posted a hat trick last season.

CAREER MILESTONE ALERT 
Senior Taylor Coughlin is sixth for career saves with 293 and is the seventh player in team history to reach 200 stops. She can become the sixth player with 300 saves and seven saves, and she can move into the Top-5 for saves with 35 shots turned away. Coughlin is the program's all-time leader in goals against average (11.08).

Senior Chyler Espino moved back into the top 10 in career draw controls and stands at 124 draws. The senior has moved into fourth place in the category and will finish in that spot, with third place being 224 draw controls. She became the eighth player in team history with 100 draws against CCSU on March 15, the sixth player with 100 ground balls against Howard on April 9, and the fourth player with 100 ground balls and 100 draw controls in her career. She has 104 ground balls in her career and can move into fifth place with one ground ball. She has also moved into the Top-10 for caused turnovers with 47 and can move into seventh place with three caused miscues and fifth place with five caused turnovers.

Senior Victoria DiRenno has moved into eighth place for career draw controls with 94 and can become the eighth player in team history with 100 draws with six more draw controls.

SEASON MILESTONE ALERT 
Sophomore Elizabeth Garcia became the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers with 31 in the game against Delaware State on April 12. The sophomore also moved into the top 10 for ground balls with 46 and can move into third place with two ground balls and would need 15 ground balls to move into second place. Senior Victoria DiRenno has 62 draw controls to rank sixth on the single-season chart in the category. She can move into fifth place with five draws and fourth with 12 draws. On the freshman charts, Samantha Hewitt ranks second in assists with 13 helpers, with the program record for freshmen sitting at 27. The freshman is sixth with 36 points as a freshman, one point from fifth, four points from third, and nine points from second. She is also seventh in goals with 23 and can move into sixth with one goal, fifth with six tallies, and fourth with seven markers. Junior Mak Patten needs four assists to join the season chart for assists.

COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
Freshman Heather Delbone notched the first goal of the season against Akron on February 11 for her first collegiate goal. Fellow freshman Samantha Hewitt notched her first collegiate score against Youngstown State on February 16. Junior Mak Patten assisted with both tallies. Delbone, Hewitt, Bella Teche, and Lily Robertson saw their first collegiate action as a member of the starting lineup. Lani Filoon came off the bench for her first collegiate action against Akron. Filoon recorded her first career assist against CCSU on March 15 and her first career goal against Delaware State on April 12.

AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN 
Seniors Taylor Coughlin and Chyler Espino, and junior Brooke Lacey have been elected team captains for the 2025 season. Senior Victoria DiRenno, junior Julia Givens, and Elizabeth Mahmud have been named to the Leadership Council.

RETURNING ALL-NEC PERFORMERS 
Senior Chyler Espino returns in 2025 for her senior season after being injured in the first game of the 2024 season at Oregon. Espino was an All-NEC first-team performer in her sophomore campaign. Junior Julia Givens was an All-NEC second-team recipient in 2024.

WELCOME TO THE LO' 
Saint Francis women's lacrosse head coach Morgan Gott has added 11 newcomers to the team in 2025. Sophomore Elizabeth Garcia, and freshmen Kayla Adam, Heather Delbone, Lani Filoon, Samantha Hewitt, Mackenzie Metzger, Sav Musto, Lily Robertson, Bella Tesche and Calyssa Yankow joined the Red Flash for the 2025 campaign. Garcia and Robertson transferred to Saint Francis for the spring semester. Gott also added assistant coach Craig Lowery to the team.
 
FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH 
Saint Francis has four players who hail from Canada: Seniors Olivia Baldini (Hamilton, Ontario) and Taylor Coughlin (Hespeler, Ontario), junior Mak Patten (Welland, Ontario), and freshman Sav Musto (Stouffville, Ontario). Both goalkeepers (Coughlin and Musto) are from Canada.

ABOUT THE COACH 
Head coach Morgan Gott is in her first season in Loretto after serving as an assistant coach for the last two seasons. She registered her first career win as a head coach thanks to a 17-11 victory against Duquesne on February 22, 2025, and her first NEC win with a 22-2 win against CCSU on March 15, 2025. In 2023, she helped the Red Flash set a program record for overall wins (10), conference wins (5), and longest winning streak (6) and clinched the program's first-ever NEC Tournament appearance. In the two seasons as an assistant coach, Gott helped the Red Flash to an 18-14 overall record, a 12-6 record in NEC play, and the first two NEC Tournament appearances in program history.