FAIRFIELD, Conn. — After its first-ever appearance in the Hockey Commissioners Association's Ice Breaker Tournament, the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team returns to NEWHA play, hitting the road for a series against Saint Anselm this weekend. 
 
Puck drop from Sullivan Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, October 28, while Saturday's contest is slated for 3 p.m. with both games being streamed on NE10 Now. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers return to the ice this weekend after going 0-2 while hosting HCA Ice Breaker Tournament on last weekend. The Red & White fought hard in the tournament opener against Lindenwood but could not hold off the Lions who scored two goals in the final frame en route to a 4-2 win. 

In the third-place game, SHU once again came out strong but could not find the scoresheet until late in the game as #10/10 Northeastern took the 4-1 win to claim third place in the tournament. The Huskies started quickly, putting up two goals in the first 11 minutes before tacking on another with just under 10 seconds left in the frame to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. The Pios came out better in the second period but could not solve NU's Gwyneth Philips as the Huskies would score another to make it 4-0 heading into the third period. The Red & White got on the scoresheet eight minutes into the final frame to make things interesting as Nicole Bessinger tallied her first goal of the season, but the Huskies closed the door in the final 12 minutes, riding out 4-1 victors. 

STUDYING SAINT ANSELM
Saint Anselm welcomes the Pioneers into Sullivan Arena for the first time this season having gone winless in six of its first eight games, including a home-and-home split against NEWHA opposition Stonehill last weekend. After falling behind 2-1 in the first period on night one, the Hawks rattled off three straight goals to take the 4-2 win at home before falling on the road Saturday, 4-0, after a three-goal third period by Stonehill. 
 
The Hawks are led in scoring by senior Natalie Tulchinsky (4-4-8) who returns to the Hawks after earning an All-NEWHA Second Team selection a season ago. Senior Maddy McCaffery and sophomore Brooklyn Schneiderhan are tied for second on the team in points while first year Courtney Stagman has earned a majority of the starts in net, posting a 3.95 goals against average and a .881 save percentage. 

TOP (LINE) GUNS
SHU's top line pairing of Paige McNeil, Kate Helgeson and Kailey Smith has accounted for 46% of the Pios scoring this season as both Smith and Helgeson are tied for the team lead in all scoring categories. The top line for the Red & White have featured on the scoresheet in three of the last five games while Smith and Helgeson have appeared on the scoresheet in three separate games this season. 

IT'S A PARTY
With three Pios earning their first goals of the season last weekend, SHU currently has nine different goal-scorers through seven games with 15 different Pios having recorded a point this season. Last season, 17 different skaters found the back of the net with four Pioneers hitting the double-digit goal plateau. 

UP NEXT
SHU continues the fall stretch hosting Franklin Pierce for the first time this season for a NEWHA series next weekend on November 3-4. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. both nights. Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.