FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team braved the elements and fought hard but could not secure a second half comeback, falling in its season opening match against La Salle University on Sunday afternoon, 2-1.
In what was an electrifying first half, the Pios started the stronger of the two sides in the early going, quickly hemming the Explorers in their own half through the first ten minutes. Looking down the left side, SHU continued to press for the game-opening goal and found it just under 15 minutes into the first half with
Shea Kelleher tallying the Pios first goal of the season.
In the 14
th minute, Kelleher found her way into some space after continued pressure down the left flank before making her way past a defender and sending a looping, right-footed shot that careened off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net to give SHU a 1-0 lead.
With the momentum swinging in favor of the Red & White, it was the visitors who turned up the pressure, quickly securing an equalizing goal just under three minutes later. With what was thought to be a ball played offside by the SHU defenders, La Salle's Haley Gschnrey connected on a pass from Justyce Hollenbach, with the former beating SHU goalkeeper
Kyran Thievon in a one-on-one before depositing the ball into the back if the net in the 17
th minute.
La Salle continued to find their footing within the first half hour, eventually bagging the leading goal in the 25
thminute. After Gabby Picco had found space along the right side, she laid a ball in for Sunni DiElmo who got the ball onto her right foot before lashing a low, hard shot past Thievon's left side and into the netting to give the Explorers a 2-1 lead.
Late in the first half the Pios believed they had equalized the game as a free kick opportunity in the La Salle half that was initially caught by the La Salle goalkeeper fell to the ground with its momentum carrying it across the goal line. However, after a brief moment, the referee insisted that a foul had taken place after the ball was dropped by a SHU player, negating the equalizing goal.
The Pios continued to claw back through the remainder of the first half but could not find an equalizer through the first 45 minutes as the torrential downpour that had originally pushed the game back by half an hour continued sweeping its way through the area.
With both teams coming out of the halftime break with a new head of steam, both teams and spectators had to exit the confines of Park Ave Field due to a weather delay which lasted another 30 minutes and deposited another couple of inches of rain onto an already watered-down pitch.
With the game resuming in the 57
th minute, the Pios continued to match the intensity of the Explorers, jostling for every contested ball as both teams eventually combined for 29 fould during the 90 minutes.
Though the Red & White had chances in the final 10 minutes including a
Grace O'Hara strike from outside of the box that brushed wide and a
Lyndsey Laperle header that was saved, SHU could not find the elusive equalizer, falling by a slim 2-1 scoreline.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- Kelleher's goal is her first goal of the season and first goal since scoring against Saint Francis (Pa.) last season.
- Three Pioneers played the full 90 minutes including Kelleher, O'Hara and first year defender Michelle Shoup.
- Three Pioneers made their collegiate debut and first collegiate starts: Michelle Shoup, Rylee McGee and MacLaren Richards. Casey Mulligan made her first collegiate appearance in goal at the half.
- Jessie Stonehouse made her Pioneer debut coming on as a substitute and totaled 65 minutes of game time.
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in action next week with a trip down the Atlantic Coast, taking on Navy on Thursday, August 22 with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
