LORETTO, Pa.— The Sacred Heart women's soccer team opened up Northeast Conference play with a 2-0 loss to Saint Francis U on Friday afternoon. The Red Flash (4-6, 1-0 NEC) used two first half goals to defeat the Pioneers (3-8, 0-1 NEC) at Stokes Soccerplex.

Saint Francis controlled the ball from the start and drew a pivotal foul in the box in the 12^th minute. That set up Gabi Morales to sink the penalty kick past junior goalkeeper Nicole Sambuco for the early 1-0 lead. SHU continued to battle against the preseason favorite Red Flash, drawing a free kick opportunity just outside the box in the 35^th minute. Junior Alex Mesropyan nearly tied the game up but her shot sailed just over the crossbar.

Emilee Barnett picked up the second goal of the game for SFU off the assists from Mariana Jaleca and Alyssa McGhee in the 41^st minute. Pioneers had five shots in a two-minute span starting in the 60^th minute, ending with a Julia Hernan save on a shot by junior Alyssa Chirichella. SHU fired off four more shots in the rest of the second half but were unable to put one in the back of the net.

Sacred Heart out shot Saint Francis 15-12 in the game but were held to just two shots on goal. Sambuco registered four saves and Hernan picked up two in the shutout.

The Pioneers continue the western Pennsylvania road trip on Sunday, October 1 for a noon contest at Robert Morris.

First Half

• Pioneers first shot of the game came in the 26^th minute as Mesropyan missed just wide of the goal.
• Sambuco picked up her first of four saves on the day shortly after with a stop on Abigail Tarosky's shot.
• The Red Flash had a 7-3 shot advantage in the opening half.

Second Half

• Lindsay Corrallo's header off the corner kick feed from Alyssa Hyland got blocked at 61:29. Kim McNally had the rebound attempt sail high over the net.
• Melanie DaSilva had a scoring chance in the 82^nd minute but her shot went high over the net.
• Danielle Karpiej fired the 12^th and final shot for SHU in the half just wide in the 85^th minute.