Saint Francis falls, 3-0, in NEC semifinal game

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Nov. 2, 2007) – Saint Francis University’s first foray into the post-season didn’t end the way the Red Flash would have hoped, but Friday’s 3-0 loss at top-seeded Lock Haven in the Northeast Conference semifinals ended what may prove to be a spring board for many successful seasons to come.

The Flash managed only two shots, both in the second half, in a game played mostly on Saint Francis’ side of the field thanks mostly to a smothering Lady Eagles’ defense.  Lock Haven on the other hand fired 26 shots, 11 of which were on goal.

The Red Flash and Lady Eagles played a scoreless first half, despite the fact that Lock Haven fired 10 shots, two of which were on goal, while SFU went without a clear-cut offensive opportunity.  Reifsteck and the Saint Francis defense, however, came up big in the absence of a scoring threat by shutting out a relentless Lock Haven attack.

Lock Haven drew first blood with 26:17 left in the second half on a Suzanne Hobart goal.  Hobart snuck the ball inside the far post, right past goalkeeper Erin Reifsteck (Battle Creek, Mich./Saint Phillip) on a right-to-left pass from Amy Hordendorf.

LHU’s Blair Wynne scored the game’s second goal exactly one minute later.

Reifsteck made a number of outstanding stops on the day to finish with eight.  Senior Leigh Ann Conroy (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) and junior Sara Wheeler (Canton, Conn./Canton) each registered a shot for the Flash.

Saint Francis held a distinct advantage as far as crowd support as Red Flash fans appeared to out-number Lock Haven fans by as many as two-to-one in the grandstand of Hubert Jack Stadium.  The game’s official attendance was announced as 309.

Lock Haven closed out the scoring on a Hordendorf goal with under two minutes left in the game.