FAIRFIELD, Conn. - For the second straight day, the Sacred Heart women's hockey team had a big edge in play vs. Saint Michael's. On this day, it showed in the final result.
Alyssa Antonakis scored twice, including once in a three-goal third period, as the Pioneers earned a split of the weekend series with an impressive 5-1 victory on Senior Day at Martire Arena.
All nine graduate students and seniors, who were honored prior to the opening faceoff, contributed to the victory, and a few were in on the scoring.
Nicole Bessinger's goal early in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie.
Kate Helgeson capped the scoring with her sixth goal of the season with seven minutes remaining in the third period.
Paige McNeil added two assists, both coming on Antonakis's goals. Another senior,
Carly Greene, wasn't overly busy in goal but finished with 17 saves.
RECORDS
Saint Michael's: 4-26-0 (4-20-0 NEWHA)
Sacred Heart: 16-11-3 (15-6-3 NEWHA)
SHU SCORING
Alyssa Antonakis (2 goals)
Nicole Bessinger (1 goal)
Kate Helgeson (1 goal)
Bria Holm (1 goal)
Paige McNeil (2 assists )
Grayson Limke (2 assists)
Lake Bethard (1 assist)
Brianna Morden (1 assist)
OF NOTE
• Saint Michael's struck first when Victoria FitzGibbon scored at 17:25 of the first period. The Purple Knights' lead was short lived. Antonakis' first goal a little over a minute later evened the score after 20 minutes.
• The Pioneers dominated the second period, outshooting Saint Michael's 12-4. Bessinger's first goal of the season at 9:43, though, was the only tally.
• Sacred Heart broke it open in the third. Holm started the three-goal onslaught at 4:55, and less than four minutes later, Antonakis made it 4-1.
• The Pioneers finished with a 37-18 edge in shots goals. The Purples Knights won Friday night's series opener 3-1 despite being outshot 37-21.
• Limke tallied her first multi-point game of the season.
• Antonakis had her first multi-goal game of the season. She has now scored six times in 2024-25.
• The full list of graduate students and seniors honored before the game were:
Savannah Popick,
Paige McNeil,
Anastasia Sloan,
Katie Keenan,
Nicole Bessinger,
Kerryn O'Connell,
Kate Helgeson,
Sydney Antonakis and
Carly Greene.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Pioneers are on the road for a two-game series next weekend at Franklin Pierce. Friday's game is a 2 p.m. start and the opening faceoff on Saturday is set for noon.
