FAIRFIELD, Conn, — Emily Hood's second half strike provided a spark, but could not usher an eventual comeback as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team fell at home to the University of Vermont, 2-1, on Wednesday night. 
 
With a full complement of rest days and a return to nonconference action, the Pioneers looked to get on the front foot early with a new look in the starting eleven and the return of first year goalkeeper Casey Mulligan in net. However, the visitors were able to jump over early, winning a penalty inside the first five minutes of action after Kate Bossert was brought down in the SHU penalty area. Though SHU's Mulligan guessed correctly, Bossert was able to send a rifled shot from the spot past Mulligan to give the Catamounts an early 1-0 lead. 
 
Continuing with the pressure, the Catamounts continued to pester the Pios with route one play, sending long balls from the backline in the hopes of finding a streaking forward down the field. Eventually, the gambles paid off for the visitors with Sydney Remington receiving a long ball from Bailey Ayer that sent Remington streaking past the SHU backline. Remington extended the UVM lead to two by sending a low shot past the far side of Mulligan to provide cushion via a 2-0 lead inside of 20 minutes. 
 
Though the Pios continued to battle in the first 45, it was Vermont that held the majority of the possession for the first half, grabbing a plethora of chances via nine shots toward Mulligan. The first year ended the first half with four saves in her return between the sticks. 
 
Having started in the match against Quinnipiac, Kyran Thievon was called upon in relief in the second half as the Pios searched for a way back into the match. The home side was able to get a glimpse of hope with a blistering start to the second half as sophomore Emily Hood bagged her first collegiate goal two minutes into the half. 
 
With the Pios having some success along the wings in the first half, the hosts found the breakthrough with perennial scorer Grace O'Hara finding room along the right flank, torching a UVM defender toward the endline to provide room for a cross. Though the ensuing pass was partially stopped up by a Catamount defender outside the six yard box, the ball trickled through two Catamounts, finding the right boot of Hood who slotted the ball along the right post to cut the deficit in half in the 47^th minute. 
 
With the visitors providing much of the action in the first half, the Pios flipped the script in the early moments of the second half, but not without some pushback. Just moments after cutting into the deficit, the Pios found themselves in the defending third with UVM threatening. On a lovely play from the visitors, Bossert found herself in a one-on-one with Thievon, with the Pioneer goalkeeper standing strong, parrying a low shot into a vacant area for the Pios to clear. 
 
The Red & White continued to hold the Catamounts at bay through a majority of the half with Bossert's chance being the only capable one of attempting to solve Thievon as the Pioneer sophomore finished with three saves in 45 minutes of action. 
 
Later in the match, the Pios found themselves with two great opportunities from the free kick position. However, both efforts – a Kelly Medeiros floater that just missed the top right corner and a Jessie Stonehouse effort that went over the bar – failed to reach their target as the clock became an enemy of the home side. 
 
SHU continued to press, winning the majority of challenges and lofting a  few shouts for a  penalty in the final quarter hour, but none was given, much to the dismay of the fans in attendance. With the clock winding down, the Pios had their chances. However the clock struck midnight on an attempt toward a comeback as the Catamounts closed the door on the Pios, grinding out a 2-1 victory. 
 
Top Performers:

• Emily Hood: 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
• Grace O'Hara: 1 assist, 1 shot
• Casey Mulligan: 4 saves
• Kyran Thievon: 3 saves

 
Of Note: 

• Hood's 47^th minute strike is her first collegiate goal and raises the total number of SHU players who have earned their first collegiate goal this season to three. 
• Hood is now the fifth player to score a goal this season for the Pios. 
• With an assist in the match, O'Hara is now tied for the program record in career points (62) and sits just one assist away from tying the all-time assists record (15). All three points for her this season have come via an assist. 
• Sophomore Lindsay McShea and junior Jessie Stonehouse both earned their first starts of the season in the match with Stonehouse earning her first start in the Red & White. 

 
Up Next: 
The Pioneers return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action this weekend, hosting the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday, September 14 for Youth Night at Park Ave Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.