Crosby’s Two Lamplighters Can’t Quell Surging Sacred Heart, 18-2
Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis' goal leader, junior Meghan Crosby (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), lit the board twice to set her season total at nine despite being snubbed in SFU's third straight home game by the Northeast Conference leading Sacred Heart Pioneers, 18-2.
Crosby set the precedent for the Red and White, attacking for the Red Flash’s only two markers on Sunday afternoon. The uncompromising midfielder fired four shots; all finding the six by six target, in addition to directing the Flash by coming away with three draw controls. Crosby also accounted for two ground balls.
Freshman speedster Meg Lamarche (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) achieved her team-leading 12th point on a helper in Crosby’s second strike coming at 20:57 of the later session. Lamarche also ate up one ground ball and draw. Freshman Heather Tiernan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) registered Saint Francis’ fifth shot on a free position, but ripped it right into SHU’s Chelsea Wagner’s wand. Tiernan also scooped up one loose ball.
Senior striker Kati Kenyon (Glenmont, N.Y./Niskayuna) pulled in the most ground balls for the Flash with three. Kenyon also flexed her muscle on the circle, winning one draw.
Also lapping up one ground ball apiece for SFU were freshmen Kayla Hollstadt (Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) and Val Vultaggio (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) as well as juniors Corrine Smeak (Frederick, Md./St. John’s) and Sara Wheeler (Canton, Conn./Canton).
Cinnaminson, N.J. native netminder Danielle Pokusa made some agile obstructions in cage, turning away 11 shots on 29 tries on cage. Pokusa also stirred the pot in the crease by forcing the Pioneers to cough up the ball down low.
The Pioneers pummeled the twine for nine early tabs in the first half before Crosby came away victorious off of a one-on-one battle, bouncing one of the turf to find the back of the net for SFU’s first counter-attack of the game. SHU pumped in three more before the second half commenced to set the count at 12-1.
In the early moments of the second stanza, Alyssa Harris returned the Pioneers to the scoreboard with two tallies at 28:51 and 23:27 before Lamarche motored around the back of the cage to unearth a cutting Crosby across the crease. Crosby snatched the pill, putting away the Red Flash’s second and final statement in front of back-up keeper Laurine Stafin. Sacred Heart accounted for four more goals to close the affair at an 18-2 final. Eight different Pioneers tallied in Sunday’s match with Katie Salamone leading the way of all scorers with five.
Saint Francis put forth a strong effort in the scrum, coming away with 10 ground balls and converting six of 11 total clears. Moreover, the Flash also scurried off with six total draw controls.
Saint Francis (0-9, 0-3) fumbled their third straight conference game, but will come back with a vengeance when they voyage out to Connecticut for two Northeast Conference tilts. On Friday, April 4, the Flash take to Arute Field at 7pm against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State. Saturday’s day off is proceeded by a tangle with Quinnipiac on Sunday, April 6 at 12pm on Quinnipiac Lacrosse Field.