FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team is back in action this week, playing host to crosstown-rivals Fairfield on Wednesday, October 16 before hitting the road for a weekend clash against Canisius on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff for SHU's Breast Cancer Awareness Match against the Stags is scheduled for 7 p.m. while Saturday's match is slated for noon. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers had multiple reasons to celebrate over the weekend as Lindsay McShea's 57^th minute tally was the lone goal of the afternoon to give SHU a 1-0 win over Siena on Senior Day at Park Ave Field. 
 
With the Senior Day festivities set to begin after the match, the Pios looked to get the celebration started early, putting Siena under bouts of pressure through the first 30 minutes of the match. With the Pioneers threatening in the attacking third, it was the heroics of Siena's Cate Burns who kept the score level through 30 minutes of action, negating every Pioneer opportunity through the early going. 
 
Looking to strike back, Siena had its best opportunity of the first half graze off the crossbar just past the half-hour mark as neither side was able to push one past the opposing goalkeeper as the team's headed into the halftime break deadlocked in a scoreless draw. 
 
Much like the first half, the Red & White took the battle to the Saints, eventually finding the game-opening goal just over 10 minutes into the second half. Following a spell of possession, the Pios found themselves with space in the attacking third as Morgan Bovardi found a wide-open Lindsay McShea with a lane to shoot from 25 yards from goal. McShea, who spotted an opening lashed home a right-footed strike that snuck inside the near post and past an unsuspecting Burns to put the home side up, 1-0. 
 
Looking for the insurance tally to head into the Saturday afternoon in victory celebration, the Pios had multiple chances to add to the lead with none better than Grace O'Hara having a one-on-one with Burns inside the six-yard box. However, it was Burns who made the save on the graduate forward, negating what would have been O'Hara's first goal of the season. Instead, the Pios shut the door on the Saints, grabbing a third-consecutive shutout for goalkeeper Kyran Thievon and sending those donning the Red & White out on Senior Day with a 1-0 win. 
 
ON FAIRFIELD
The Stags (12-1-1, 7-0-1 MAAC) head into matchweek nine boasting the best overall record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) while currently holding the top spot in the MAAC with 22 points. Riding a four-game win streak, Fairfield is also unbeaten in their last 11 matches with its only loss of the season coming at the hands of then-No. 24 Texas A&M in what was a 3-0 victory for the Aggies in College Station, Texas. 
 
Maddy Theriault leads the Stags – as well as the MAAC – in goals, having tallied eight in 14 matches in 2024. Theriault also leads the team in points with 18 on the year having tallied two assists to her ledger this season. Reagan Klarmann and Elle Scott sit tied for the team lead in assists (5) as the two players sit second and fourth on the Stags in total points. In goal, Katie Wright has appeared in 12 matches this season, all of which being starts for the junior goalkeeper. Wright has posted four shutouts this season and boasts a 0.84 goals against average and .791 save percentage in 2024. 
 
Dave Barrett leads the Stags in his seventh season with the program, boasting a 65-36-15 record with the program and sitting just one win shy of grabbing his 300^th career victory spread across a 24 year career with DI and DIII programs. Last season's meeting between the two squads was nothing short on dramatics as the Pios came back from a goal down three times to grab a 3-3 draw. 
 
ON CANISIUS
The Golden Griffins (9-2-2, 6-1-1 MAAC) head into matchweek nine looking to keep pace atop the league standings, hitting the road to take on Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday before playing host to the Pios for Senior Day on Saturday. The Griffs suffered their first league loss of 2024 last Saturday against Quinnipiac, falling at home 1-0 to the Bobcats after securing a 0-0 tie against Siena just three days prior. Currently, Canisius sits third in the MAAC heading into matchweek nine. 
 
Madeline Weltin leads the Griffs – and sits tied for the league lead – in goal with eight tally's on the season in 13 appearances while holding 17 points this season as well courtesy of one assist in addition to her goals. Erin Weir sits atop the team leaderboard and near the top in the league in helpers this season with eight on her account. In goal, senior Jordan Spencer has seen all 1170 minutes of action this season, leading the conference with a .385 goals against average and eight shutouts. She also holds a .857 save percentage this season and has only allowed five goals past her in 13 matches. 
 
Ryan Louis leads the Griffs in his fifth season with the program, amassing a 24-32-19 record during his tenure. The Griffs, who have already reached consecutive nine-win seasons are looking to grab their highest win total during Louis' tenure and can do so with a win in any of their last four matches. Saturday's meeting marks the third clash all-time between the two programs with SHU holding a 2-0 advantage after taking the last meeting on the road in 2016 via a 2-1 scoreline. 
 
TRUE GRIT
The Pioneers head into the weekend having gone unbeaten to start October thanks to a pair of wins and one draw to start the final month of the regular season. With an 2-0-1 record this month, the Pios have surged from the bottom of the league table and into postseason position with three weeks remaining in the regular season. 
 
SHU's second-half heroics have come from a pair of sophomores with Shea Kelleher's 56^th minute winner against Iona and Lindsay McShea's 57^th minute dazzler against Siena providing the finishing touches on a pair of 1-0 results for the Pios this month. 
 
In goal, Kyran Thievon is riding a three-match shutout streak and has not allowed a goal in 287:43 of game action which is spread across five appearances. Thievon, who has already tied her career, single-season save total (36), set a new, single-game high in saves with nine in the draw against Rider.