Loretto, Pa. –Senior Abby Knight broke a 1-1 tie in the 68th minute to lift the Youngstown State women's soccer team to a 3-1 win over St. Francis (Pa.) on Thursday evening.

The Penguins improve to 1-0 and won its first season-opener since 2019. The Red Flash fall to 0-1.

Knight's go-ahead score came off a corner kick from Mikayla Mustard midway through the second half.

Mustard's kick from the right corner found Knight at the top of the 18 and Knight lifted a shot that slipped through the goalkeeper's hands and into the lower-right corner to put the Penguins up 2-1.

After controlling possession most of the first half and outshooting the Red Flash, 6-0, the Penguins finally broke through in the 44th minute.

Senior Lianna Van Sice gathered a loose ball just outside of the 18, dribbled into the right-side of the box and lofted a cross to Elis Klein Spindola, whose header ricocheted off the crossbar and landed past the goal line to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead at the 43:18 mark.

The Red Flash knotted the game at 1-1 with a score at the 51:28 mark of the game.

Sophomore Chloe Weiland sealed the game when cored her first career goal  at the 84:42 mark.

Taylor Berry gathered the ball at midfield from Abriana Rondin and found Weiland streaking down the right side on a through ball for the Penguins third score of the game.

Senior goalkeeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick recorded two saves and picked up her 12th career win.

The Penguins outshot the Red Flash, 12-4, including 7-3 in shots on goal.

Youngstown State hosts Akron in the 2023 home opener, Sunday, Aug. 20. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field.