EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — A two-goal second period gave the Sacred Heart University women's hockey team the advantage through 40 minutes of play, but a an early third-period rally was too much to overcome as the Pioneers dropped a close contest to LIU, 3-2, on Friday afternoon.
Through the first 20 minutes, it was a tale of two halves as the hosts jumped on the Pios to begin the game. With the Pios having weathered the storm early, thanks to
Carly Greene's heroics in net, the visitors flipped the script in the latter stages of the first period, nearly finding the game-opening goal late in the period. However, both goalies continued to pitch first period shutouts as the hosts jumped to a 12-9 shots on goal advantage through the first period with the score deadlocked, 0-0.
With neither side finding the breakthrough in the first period, LIU went back on the jump to being the second, immediately hemming the Pios in their own end, leading to the game-opening goal. Just over five minutes into the frame, LIU's Bri Eid found a puck in front of Greene, sending it past the netminder to open the scoring for a 1-0 LIU lead.
Nearing the halfway mark of the frame, the Pios found an opportunity to get back into the game with a power-play opportunity as LIU's Anna Fairman was taken to the box for a tripping minor. Nearing the end of the power play, Peyton Bennett's struck the back of the net for her second of the season, going solo through the offensive zone and banking in a shot off a defender to push the game level, 1-1.
Five minutes later, SHU found its first lead of the game as
Isabella Chaput grabbed her third goal of the season, ripping a wrist shot into the top corner to push SHU into the driver's seat with a 2-1 lead. With SHU threatening to double the lead, LIU's Abbie Thompson played spoiler as the Pios tried to extend the lead, ending the second period with 18 saves as SHU claimed a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Having looked the better of the two sides to start the two prior periods, LIU struck twice in the first four minutes of the frame with Milana Butera and Carrigan Umpherville finding the back of the net just two minutes apart to give LIU a 3-2 lead with 16 minutes to play. Though the Pioneers continued to threaten, it was the Sharks who had the answer to all of SHU's pressing questions, riding out a 3-2 win.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- With an assist, first year forward Ella Holm extends her point-streak to a career-long five games.
- Sophomore goaltender Jillian Petruno made her return to the ice in the game, playing just under 30 minutes in relief of Carly Greene.
- With a goal, Isabella Chaput is now on a three-game point streak. The goal is her team-leading third goal of the season.
- Peyton Bennetts goal is her second of the season and second in the last three games as the sophomore now has a single-season high in goals (2).
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back on the ice on Saturday, November 2 to conclude the series against LIU. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena is slated for 2 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
