NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- For the first time in program history, the University of St. Francis women's soccer team earned its 13th victory in a season on Friday night as the Fighting Saints scored a 2-1 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinal Round win over No.1-seeded Holy Cross College (Ind.) at Saints Field in Notre Dame, Ind.  If breaking a program record wasn't impressive enough, the win also elevated the team to earn the right to compete in the championship finals match on Tuesday, marking the furthest advancement the program has ever accomplished.

First Half
Holy Cross (10-6-3) set the pace of the match in the first half, ripping off four shot attempts in the opening eight minutes of play.  The hosts would go on to produce a total of nine shots over the first 45 minutes.  St. Francis countered with its third shot attempt finding the back of the HCC net via the foot of Kelly Flores with an assist from Charlene Mendoza in the 26th minute.  Despite the 1-0 lead providing a little bit of comfort, USF continued to stay on the aggressive, and registered four more shot attempts over the next 10 minutes.  After a solid attempt from Isabel Diez was stopped by the HCC keeper, the guests continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with their second goal of the night just 47 seconds later.  Litzy Flores would take credit for the score after a cross from Kelly Flores allowed the junior to connect for her fourth goal of the season and secure a 2-0 USF lead heading into the break.

Second Half
St. Francis (13-3-3) came out as the aggressors in the second half, dominating the first 10 minutes with the first five shot attempts of the frame.  Holy Cross responded by picking up the pace quickly thereafter and began to put pressure on the USF defense.  Needing to catch up quickly, the hosts desperately tried to cut down their 2-0 deficit with a string of five straight shot attempts and two corner kicks between the 57th and 70th minutes, but HCC could not cash in as a solid defensive line from USF defeated each of those tries.  After back-to-back USF shot attempts in the 81st minute came up short, Holy Cross was finally able to get on the scoreboard when the hosts connected for a goal in the 83rd minute.  St. Francis' defense would stay steady thereafter, however, thwarting HCC's last two shot attempts of the match to shut the door on the hosts and claim the 2-1 victory.

For the match, St. Francis outshot Holy Cross 17-15 with 11 attempts being as on-target.  Mia Ocana led USF with five shots, while Kelly Flores and Diez each chipped in three.  Giselle Mata finished the match collecting six saves during her 90 minutes in the net.

Up Next
With Friday's victory, the St. Francis advances to the championship round of the CCAC Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 11, where they will face No. 3-seed St. Ambrose University (Iowa).  The match will take place at the St. Vincent's Athletic Complex in Davenport, Iowa.  Gametime is yet to be determined.

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