Box Score SHELTON, CT – The Sacred Heart women's hockey team third period comeback fell short, as the Pioneers lost their home-opener to Holy Cross 2-1 in the second game of the home and home series on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Center of Connecticut.
SHU had opportunities late in the second when two Crusaders were sent to the penalty box within a minute of each other. Amie Varano had two shots stopped by Holy Cross goaltender Siobhan Burke on the power play, but the Pioneers would be on a two-man advantage to begin the third. SHU would then cut the lead in half 30 seconds into the final period when Carly Radovich ripped a slapshot past Siobhan Burke from the blueline for her first goal on the season. Taylor Moreland got her second assist on the season on the power play goal, with Hanna Skelley recorded her first assist of the year with the secondary assist.
With only a combined eight shots on net after that score, much of the third period was played in the neutral zone. Megan Ofner did have a breakaway slap-shot stopped by Siobhan Burke midway through the period, and Sacred Heart did get one final power play opportunity with 16:59 left, however the Pioneers were not able to break through on the man-advantage as Skelley was denied by Burke. SHU played the final 47 seconds without the goalie but could not get a shot off on net.
Amanda Fontaine finished the game with 24 saves, more than doubling Burke's total of 10. Sacred Heart also had the advantage in the face-off circle winning 25 of the 45 face-offs, and was four for four on the penalty kill. The Crusaders held a 26-11 shot advantage.
Holy Cross grabbed the lead early in the first period when Elizabeth Scala beat Sacred Heart goalie
Amanda Fontaine with a wrister in front of the net at the 18:41 mark for her second goal on the year. The Crusaders then added to the lead when Erin Hall fired a slapshot from the blueline past Fontaine with 5:23 left in the opening period for her second goal on the season.
The Pioneers will be back on the ice when they play at Brown Saturday, November 14 at 4:00 p.m.
First Period:
- Amanda Fontaine sent a wrist shot wide from Izzy Bagi.
- Brittany Smith had Sacred Heart's first shot halfway through the period but it was saved by Siobhan Burke.
- Burke made consecutive saves after stopping the slapshot from Cassandra Hanlon and Haley Payne's put back attempt off the rebound.
- The Pioneers went on their first penalty kill of the game 4:57 left in the first period. Sacred Heart was successful on special teams keeping the Holy Cross lead to just two goals.
Second Period:
- Amanda Fontaine saved Izzy Bagi's slap shot from the blueline on the penalty kill.
- Sacred Heart went back on the penalty kill early in the second period and the Pioneer special teams prevailed again behind two huge saves from Fontaine. Fontaine stood on her head in the second period with 10 saves on 10 Holy Cross shots on goal.
- Kara Violette from Holy Cross hit the pipe on a power play shot in front of the net.
- Fontaine stood tall on the strong wrister from Mackenzie Boardman.
- Julie Dobiac had a huge block in the net with Fontaine stuck out of position.
Third Period:
- Holy Cross' Katie Goguen had an opportunity in front of the net but Amanda Fontaine sent the shot wide.
- Fontaine had a huge save on an Izzy Bagi fast break shot in front of the goal.
