FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Weekend for the Sacred Heart Women's Hockey Team got off to a fantastic start as the Pioneers erased a two-goal, third period deficit to win 4-3 in overtime against Saint Michael's at the Martire Family Arena.

Skating three-on-three in the extra session, sophomore Sydney Antonakis took a long pass along the left boards and skated around a Purple Knight defender before moving across the crease and slipping the puck past goalie Carissa Mudrak 50 seconds after the puck dropped.

The sophomore from Elko New Market, Minn., now has 10 goals this season.

The OT would not have happened if not for graduate student Nicole Guidi (Melville, N.Y.) crashing the net late in the third and banging home a rebound with many bodies on the ice around her. That capped a two-goal third period that brought the home team back from a 3-1 disadvantage.

SHU took the lead five minutes into the game.

Senior right wing Cassandra Nevers (West Suffield, Conn.), who took a pass from classmate Sophie Lupone (Suffield, Conn.), fired a shot off the goalie's pads from the left circle and the puck bounced out to the low slot. Another senior, Rachael DeLong (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), swooped in and smacked it into the back of the net for her fourth of the season.

The home team's lead lasted two minutes with the first of three straight tallies by the Purple Knights.

Antonakis, converted a Delani Mackay (Brookfield, Wis.) pass early in the third to cut the margin to 3-2, while junior goalie Molly Elmore (Newburyport, Mass.) picked up her effort and finished with 20 saves.

The Pios, who know they are headed to Franklin Pierce next weekend for a NEWHA best-of-three playoff series, celebrate Senior Day Saturday at 2 pm at Martire Family Arena.