Brooklyn, N.Y. – The Long Island University(w) women’s soccer team held a decisive advantage in shots, but came up short in a 1-0 loss to Saint Francis (Pa.) in Northeast Conference action on Sunday afternoon at LIU Field. The Red Flash scored the game-winner just under 10 minutes into the contest and held off a furious Blackbirds offensive barrage to send LIU to its second straight defeat.

Long Island (6-6-0, 2-3-0 NEC) opened the game with a scoring chance in the third minute when junior Kayleigh Morgan (Harlow, England) sent a cross into the area that got to the head of junior Caitlin Meadows (Brookdale, Calif.), but her header sailed just wide. Saint Francis (Pa.) (7-4-2, 4-1-0 NEC) responded in the 10th minute when Caitlin Vultaggio sent a shot in from the right flank that freshman Jennifer Bannon (East Greenwich, R.I.) managed to turn away. The rebound, however, bounced to an unmarked Rachel Seibert who tapped home the loose ball for a 1-0 lead.

The Blackbirds turned up the offense in an effort to level the score and had a chance to open the second half when they drew a foul just outside the 18-yard box. Morgan took the free kick opportunity and bent a shot over the Red Flash defensive wall, but Jessica Boyer collected the shot for one of her five saves. LIU held a decisive 11-1 advantage in shots in the second half, but were unable to find the equalizer despite a few flurries of action in front of the SFU goal that seemed destined to end with a score by the home side.

Boyer finished the day with five saves for the Red Flash to backstop a strong defensive effort for the shutout, while Bannon made three saves for the Blackbirds.

The Blackbirds return to action on Friday, Oct. 16, with a road game at NEC rival Quinnipiac.