WINCHENDON, Mass. – Sophomore Anastasia Sloan is never going to forget her first collegiate goal.

Skating on defense for the Sacred Heart Women's Hockey Team, the Covina, Calif., native hit the net with 2:13 left in the third period to give the road squad a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Franklin Pierce in the first game of a best-of-three NEWHA Quarterfinal Series at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

Sloan found a rebound in the high slot off an Iyla Ryskamp shot that was saved and gave SHU its second lead of the day with her first Sacred Heart goal.

"It (the atmosphere) was electric," said Sloan. "My teammates were the only reason that something like that could've happened, and it really set the mood for going into tomorrow's game."

That goal made Carly Greene a winner in net. However, the sophomore from Minnetonka, Minn., earned the "W" with one of the best performances of her career. She stopped 35 of 36 shots to give SHU its first victory at Franklin Pierce in three tries this season.

Greene and her teammates have a chance to end the series tomorrow at 4 p.m. in game two.


Motivated by nine saves from her goalie in the opening frame, senior Sophie Lupone gave the No. 5 seeded Pioneers a 1-0 lead with an unassisted tally at 11:33 of the second period.

"It was a hard-fought win," said head coach Tom O'Malley. "The team played a great game, it was "no quit" hockey."