Jaspers Brutish First Half Staggers Flash

Riverdale, N.Y. – Freshman front lineman Val Vultaggio (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) directed the Red Flash’s efforts against the Manhattan College Jaspers, figuring two points into Wednesday’s affair.  Vultaggio terminated the Flash’s scoreless draught at 11:44 of the second part of play, adding her second point on an assist to midfield counterpart Meg Lamarche’s (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) tally approximately five minutes later at the 7:32 mark.

On top of Lamarche's team leading eighth goal, the freshman force scooped up two ground balls and came away with one draw.

Notably, sophomore Blair Kosela (Crescent, Pa./Moon Area) achieved her first collegiate point with a fanciful dish on Vultaggio’s goose-egg buster. 

Saint Francis’ starting goaltender, freshman Danielle Pokusa (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson), played the first 23:07, thwarting seven collective shots.  Pokusa collected three ground balls to her credit.  Junior netminder Katie Godshall (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) ate up the last 37 minutes in cage, turning away five shots and picking up two loose balls, both season bests.

The Flash were overpowered in the initial half, surrendering 16-0 goals on 32 shots.  The Jaspers solidified their stance by tossing two past Pokusa in the first minute of competition. Manhattan added another marker at 20:26 in the second before Vultaggio countered for SFU’s first score.  Lamarche stormed in for Saint Francis’ second and final tally, but Manhattan’s Ashley McHale dropped one more on the Flash at 3:54 to cease scoring, generating an 18-2 final count.

The Flash (0-5) will remain in New York for Thursday’s showdown at 3pm on Wagner College Stadium’s turf against the Wagner College Seahawks in Staten Island.  Wagner competed against the Jaspers at home on March 1, dropping the decision 13-9.  Thursday, March 20, indicates Saint Francis opening Northeast Conference game of their 2008 season.