LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis swimming team, led by Head Coach Rory Coleman, has announced its 2016-17 schedule. The slate features three home meets and invitationals at Boston College, Cleveland State, Colgate and Pittsburgh.
The Red Flash opens the schedule on Saturday, October 1 as it travels to Delaware for a meet with the Blue Hens and Georgetown.
Saint Francis then heads to the Colgate Invitational on October 7-8before returning to the Northeast Catholic Invitational, hosted by Boston College, on October 14-15. SFU defeated four of its five opponents at last year’s Northeast Catholic Invitational.
The Red Flash makes its home debut on Friday, October 28 at 1 p.m. as it takes on NEC foe LIU Brooklyn. SFU fell 140-121 in Brooklyn last year.
SFU then visits Wagner on Saturday, November 12 for its second NEC meet of the season. The following weekend, Saint Francis returns to the Magnus Cup, hosted by Cleveland State, for the fifth straight year.
Saint Francis welcomes Lock Haven for its second home meet, taking on the Bald Eagles at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 3. SFU defeated Lock Haven, 158-88, last season.
The Red Flash is back on the road when it travels to Youngstown State for a meet on Friday, January 13. SFU earned a 148-110 victory over the Penguins last season. The following day, Saint Francis visits Duquesne for a 1 p.m. meet.
Saint Francis hosts Siena for a 1 p.m. meet on Saturday, January 21 when its hosts Senior Day. SFU earned a 166.5-121.5 win at Siena last season.
The Red Flash wraps up the regular season on Saturday, January 28 at the Western Pennsylvania Invitational, hosted by Pitt.
The Northeast Conference Championship will be held on February 15-18 in Cambridge, Mass.
“We have a great core of upperclassmen returning and we are excited about the freshman class we have coming in,” said Coleman. “We have a couple more invitationals this year, which should help us to determine our potential at the end of the year. We are looking forward to very big things from our team this season.”
Saint Francis went 8-7 in meets last season and finished fourth at the NEC Championships. The Red Flash returns 16 swimmers from the 2015-16 team, including Katie Lafferty (Bremen, Ind./Bremen), who enters her junior season after winning the 500-yard Freestyle at the NEC Championships and recording Top Three finishes in the 100-yard Freestyle and 200-yard Freestyle.
Swimming news courtesy of Saint Francis Swimming & Diving.