LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 15, 2006) – Sophomore midfielder Aaron Clapham (Christchurch, New Zealand) scored two goals, and senior forward Scott Thompson (Durham, England) tallied a goal and an assist, to lead the Saint Francis men’s soccer team to a 3-2 Northeast Conference victory over Long Island, on Sunday afternoon at the Stokes Soccer Complex.

The Red Flash jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes, but had to hold on to extend their unbeaten streak to a school-record eight matches. Saint Francis improved to 6-5-3 overall, and 3-0-2 in the Northeast Conference. The Red Flash are over .500 for the first time this season by earning a 5-0-3 record in their past eight matches.

“I am pleased with how we started by going up by three goals so quickly,” said Saint Francis head coach B.J. Craig. “LIU made it a game until the end, and that is something we need to be reminded of. At the end of the day, it was three points at home, and that is important at this time.”

Clapham got the Red Flash on the board with a beautifully executed play. After a throw-in, Thompson touched a ball to junior defender Jarron Brooks (Mitchellville, Md. / Archbishop Carroll), who fed a terrific cross into the 18-yard box where Clapham one-touched it past goalkeeper Alex Fatovic at 6 minutes, 34 seconds.

Saint Francis took a 2-0 lead at 12:55 when Thompson battled for possession at the top of the box. He came away with the ball, and touched a soft shot into the top of the goal, just out of reach of Fatovic, for his fifth goal of the year.

The Red Flash continued to pressure and it was Clapham who found himself inside the 18-yard box on a breakaway when two defenders fouled him from behind. He was awarded a penalty kick and put it into the right side of the net for his fifth goal of the season to make it 3-0 at 28:33.

But the Blackbirds didn’t give up, and controlled much of the action the rest of the way. They were able to get one goal a few minutes after the penalty kick when Ryan Williams passed to Frank Alesci, who put the ball into the lower left corner of the net from 14 yards out to cut the lead to 3-1 at 33:58.

Long Island (3-10-1, 1-4-1 NEC) was finally able to crack the Saint Francis defense again when Alesci assisted on a goal by Josh Merchant at 70:25 to make it 3-2. Merchant shot from 12 yards out, putting the ball into the lower right corner.

Both teams had their share of chances down the stretch. Clapham and Thompson both had good chances stopped by backup Blackbirds goalkeeper Jeremy Wimer in the second half.

Red Flash goalkeeper Brad Williams (San Lorenzo, Calif. / Arroyo) stopped three shots in the game, none bigger than a diving stop off a free kick with 5:44 remaining in the contest. Alesci took the free kick from 21 yards out. He hit a perfect shot into the upper right corner of the net, but Williams made a fully extended diving save to preserve the win for Saint Francis.

The Red Flash outshot Long Island 11-9, and held a 5-0 edge in corner kicks. Clapham’s two goals gave him a career high five on the season. He scored three goals during his freshman campaign. Thompson’s fifth goal of the year tied his previous career high.