BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Saint Francis University downed host Salem University, 15-7, at the Bridge Sports Complex.
The Red Flash offense exploded in the fourth quarter, tallying six goals. Megan Marlin (Flower Mound, Texas) scored first to put Saint Francis into double digits. After a response by the Tigers, Caylah Olay (Redondo Beach, Calif.) found the back of the net with a man advantage. Olay continued to be a threat on offense, tallying back-to-back additional goals to extend the lead to 13-6. Sam Eschleman (Reading, Pa.) found the back of the net twice herself, ending Saint Francis’ scoring at 15 goals.
Saint Francis opened the first quarter with three unanswered goals. Emese Szucs (Budapest, Hungary) tallied the first goal just 27 seconds into the game. After a steal by Isabel Lumley (Brisbane, Australia), Szucs tallied her second goal of the day for a two-goal lead. Olay scored the Red Flash’s final goal of the opening frame on a power play, causing Salem to take a timeout before scoring two goals themselves for a 3-2 score.
Offensive efforts continued for the Red Flash, outscoring the Tigers 4-1. Olay began the scoring of the quarter with an assist by Marlin. On an exclusion on Salem, Olay found the back of the net, extending the Red Flash lead to 5-2. With 4:18 remaining in the half, Kayla Rhoads (Oceanside, Calif.) set Lucy Willis (Ft. Thomas, Ky.) up for the score. The Tigers managed to get the ball past Lumley, but Olay converted on another powerplay for her fourth goal of the game, wrapping up scoring in the second quarter with a 7-3 lead.
Scoring in the third quarter for Saint Francis was all Szucs. The senior scored both goals for the Red Flash on penalty shots, giving them a 9-5 lead.
Olay led scoring for Saint Francis with seven goals on the day. Szucs was behind her with four. Eschleman tallied two goals, and Marlin and Willis rounded out scoring with a goal apiece.
Sarah Hartwell (Grand Blanc, Mich.) led the team in steals with three. Aubrey Miller (Mohnton, Pa.) and Lumley each earned two. Five different players got credit for one steal apiece.
Lumley and Grace Raquel (Naperville, Ill.) recorded a combined 12 saves with eight and four, respectively.
Release courtesy Saint Francis University Athletics Communications
