FAIRFIELD, CT (August 24, 2012) - The Sacred Heart field hockey team opened their 2012 season in sterling fashion scoring three second half goals to come away with a 3-1 win over visiting Towson University Friday afternoon on Campus Field.  R-Senior Kate Boyd (Nottingham, NH) scored twice to rally the Pioneers back from down 1-0 for the win.

The Pioneers (1-0) controlled play for much of the first half but found themselves in a 1-0 hole as the Tigers (0-1) scored on just their second shot just over 27 minutes into play.  The got off five shots in the first 35 minutes with their best scoring chance coming in the 18th minute.  Freshman Christine Mace (Norwalk, CT) collected the ball on the right and beat Towson keeper Tashani Dickson only to see her shot go wide of the far post.

Towson's Courtney Branco broke the scoreless drought at 27:16 as teammate Heather Jenney set her up on the stroke line on the left post.  Branco put her shot past freshman goalkeeper Mary Altepeter (Chesterfield, MO) for the lead.  SHU finished the half outshooting Towson 5-2 but couldn't find the scoreboard.

Sacred Heart kept the offensive pressure on in the second half and finally broke through just over four minutes into play.  Sophomore Sarah Bergman (Blandon, PA) set up Boyd for her first of the 2012 season as she beat the keeper to the left post.  The duo hooked-up again in the 51st minute of play for what proved to be the game-winner. 

Bergman collected her own rebound of a missed shot and quickly crossed the ball to a waiting Boyd who deposited it in the back of the cage.  R-Freshman Liz Bergman (Blandon, PA) finished out the Pioneer scoring with a blast from the top of the circle past Dickson.

The Pioneers dominated on shots, 17-4, 12 coming during the second half.  SHU also held the edge in penalty corners, 6-3.  Altepeter did not need to make a save for SHU in earning her first career win.

Sacred Heart will now hit the road for three-straight starting on Sunday afternoon with a trip upstate to face the UConn Huskies.  Gametime is slated for 1:00 pm.

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