Field Hockey | 9/18/2025 7:38:00 PM

Friday, Sep 19th | LIU | Loretto, Pa | DeGol Field | 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sep 21st | St.Louis  | Loretto, Pa. |  DeGol Field  | 11:00 A.M

OPENING STICK VS LIU
Friday's Matchup between Saint Francis and LIU marks the sixth meeting in their all-time series, which began back in 2019. Saint Francis currently holds a 4-1 lead in the series.

THE WORD ON LIU  
Coached by Sam Hickman-Belle, Long Island University's lineup features six upperclassmen and two Dutch players who bring significant power to their sticks. Freshman Tess Termars and sophomore Lotte Haagmans are responsible for more than half of the team's points.  
THE LAST TIME WE MET THE SHARKS 
The Red Flash last faced the Sharks in 2024, and despite Saint Francis's effort to get on the board, they were shut out 2-0.  Goalkeeper Mia DiGenova made nine saves in the cage while Madison Waldspurger registered four shots and two on goal.
OPENING STICK VS ST.LOUIS
Sunday's game between Saint Francis and St.Louis marks just the eighth time in their all-time series, which started in 2013. The Red Flash have never been beaten by the Billikens, claiming all seven victories. 

THE WORD ON ST.LOUIS
Coached by Interim Head Coach Laura Hurff, the St.Louis program features such players as Sierra Larson, who leads the team with four goals and eight points. The goalkeeper is Abby Schalow, who was named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team last year. 
THE LAST TIME WE MET ST.LOUIS
The Red Flash last played St.Louis back in 2019, where Saint Francis won the match 3-0 in Loretto. During the game, the Red Flash operated on all cylinders, holding St.Louis to no shots in the first half and outshooting them 12-4 in total. Taylor Massage, Celeste Azzari, and Agustina Deharbe were all scored in the lopsided affair. 
NEXT TIME OUT
Get ready for the Red Flash team's homecoming as they host a matchup against the LIU Sharks on Friday, September 19th, at 3 pm. The game will also serve as the NEC opener.
BUILDING A BRICK WALL 
Goalkeeper Mia DiGenova has been the steady force in the net lately; her impressive performance earned her the NEC Prime Performer of the week award for the second consecutive week and her fourth career Defensive Player of the Week honor. In her last six games, including her most recent against Big Ten opponent Indiana, she saved 26 of the 53 shots she faced. Additionally, she has two shutouts, just one shy of her career high of three, reached last year.  
NEW TO THE 'LO
Second-year head coach Mackenzie Allessie added sophomore transfers Julia Barto (Indiana [Pa.]), Avery Bradburn (Richmond), Addie Sholly (Lehigh) along with freshmen Hailee Adams, Piper Almy, Delaney Amole, Ryan Engleman, Gianna Lambert, Morgan Smeltz to the 2025 roster. Haley Conners is not new to the 'Lo, but she is trading in her playing shoes for coaching ones as the field hockey graduate assistant.
TOO MANY ANTHEMS TO PLAY
Along with 19 players from the United States, head coach Mackenzie Allessie has two players from Argentina (Sofia Marciano, Josefina Sayal Aguirre), a player from Canada (Brooklyn Widdess), and one from Spain (Cruz Cánepa) for the 2025 season.
ABOUT THE COACH
Head coach Mackenzie Allessie is in her second season in Loretto after leading the team to a 10-8 overall record and 5-3 mark in league play. As a player, Allessie tallied 61 goals and 45 assists for 167 points in two seasons at Ohio State and three at Penn State. A five-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American and five-time NFHCA All-Region first-team selection, she helped the Nittany Lions to the NCAA national semifinals for the first time since 2007 and a share of the Big Ten Championship in 2022. Allessie, named to the All-Big Ten first team in all five seasons, was named the Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year during the 2021 spring season after posting 15 goals and five assists in 16 games for Ohio State. Allessie helped the United States win the bronze medal in the Pan American games in 2019 in Chile after becoming the youngest player named to the United States National Team in 2018. She registered the most goals scored by a member of Team USA during those 2019 games. She was also named to the United States National Team in 2022.