NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 6, 2024) – It was the Killer Bs on Sunday afternoon for the Sacred Heart University field hockey team. Ines Braithwaite (Oxford, England) and Emma Brayford (Breiningsville, Pa.) both scored third-quarter goals, to lead the Pioneers to a 2-1, non-conference victory over Georgetown at Johnson Field. Prior to the game, the Pios honored last season's Northeast Conference champions with the unveiling of the team's championship banner.
 
The first half went without a goal, though SHU (4-7) enjoyed a 5-1 advantage in shot attempts, which was a sign of things to come. The Pioneers would break through just 2:32 into the second half, when Aine Keaney (New City, N.Y.) set up the second goal of the season for Braithwaite, in the 33^rd minute.
 
Sacred Heart would make it 2-0 before the third quarter was out. The Pioneers held a 7-1 advantage in penalty corners on the afternoon, including 6-1 in the second half. They would cash in on one in the 41^st minute, when Abby Lauer (Hummelstown, Pa.) inserted for Jaden Ray (Shrub Oak, N.Y.). Ray immediately set up a drive for Brayford, who hammered home her first of the campaign.
 
Georgetown (3-7) would get on the board in the 55^th minute to create the 2-1 final. Elena Perez Alejandro tallied her second of the year, unassisted. The SHU defense held strong the rest of the way though, to preserve the one-goal victory. Georgetown would not generate another shot attempt over the remaining 5:30, despite removing the goalkeeper in favor of an extra attacker inside the final three minutes.
 
Samantha Maresca (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) stopped six of seven shots to pick up the win (4-7) in the SHU cage. Bailey Tietz (1-2) made four saves against six shots in front of the Georgetown net, while Caroline Suko added a defensive save as well.
 
SHU has two games on the schedule next weekend, as the Pioneers will travel to Wagner for an NEC contest on Friday afternoon and return home to host Towson in a non-conference affair bright and early Sunday morning.