BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (October 4, 2023) – The Sacred Heart University field hockey team opened a busy, three-game week with a tightly-contested contest on the road in its Northeast Conference opener at Long Island University on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Pios, it was the host Sharks who came up with the only goal of the day. Kiki Bruning's third-quarter tally stood as the difference, as LIU picked up a 1-0 victory.
 
SHU (2-7, 0-1 NEC) held a slim, 10-9 advantage in shot attempts in the game, which included a 5-2 margin in shots on goal, but was unable to solve LIU keeper Fleur Hofman.
 
Instead, after a scoreless first half, LIU (3-6, 1-0 NEC) found the only goal of the proceedings by capitalizing on a turnover in the middle stages of the third quarter. In the 38^th minute, Bruning worked to gain possession in the midfield, carried ahead, gained the right side of the circle, wound up and drove home her second goal of the season from distance.
 
Now playing from behind, SHU generated three shot attempts over the remainder of the third quarter and got one off in the fourth quarter as well, but to no avail, as LIU held on for the 1-0 victory.
 
Samantha Maresca (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) faced just two shots in the SHU net and made one save in what was a bit of a tough-luck loss (2-7) for the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Week. Hofman (3-6) collected five saves at the other end to post her first collegiate shutout for LIU.
 
The Pios are right back in action on Friday, when they travel to meet crosstown rival Fairfield in an NEC contest at 4 p.m.