Loretto, PA -- Senior Katy LaBella (Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate) and redshirt junior Tesa McKibben (Cogan Station, Pa./Montoursville) will captain the 2012 edition of the Saint Francis University women's soccer team, head coach Brenda van Stralen announced on Monday.
A two-year captain, LaBella has played in 40 Red Flash games over that span, drawing 39 starts. Throughout the 2011 regular season, LaBella and the SFU defense tied for the Northeast Conference lead in shutouts (8) and surrendered only 1.11 goals per game. In 2010, she contributed to eight Flash shutouts and started in four of team's last five games during which SFU allowed only three goals in 487 minutes of action.
After missing her freshman year with an injury, McKibben burst onto the scene as a sophomore, leading the league in goals and points en route to NEC Player of the Year accolades. The 2011 season was no different as she led the league in points (33) and goals (14) to earn a second NEC Player of the Year nod. After only 46 career games, McKibben stands two goals shy of matching the SFU record for career goals (33) and four points away from tying the school mark in that category (81).
As a team, the Red Flash went 12-6-3 last season, earning the program's first-ever NEC regular season championship. The Red Flash opens its 2012 campaign with an exhibition match vs. American on Friday, August 10 and opens the regular season when it hosts Duquesne on August 17.