NEW YORK, N.Y. – Behind six different scorers, including a team-high three goal performance from Maggie Araneo, the Sacred Heart University women's lacrosse team earned its first win of the 2025 season, defeating Ivy League opponent Columbia, 11-10, on Saturday afternoon in non-conference play.  

Records:
Sacred Heart (1-3)
Columbia (2-2)

Top Performers:
Maggie Araneo – 3 points (3 goals)
Shae Insinga – 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist), 5 draw controls
Taylor Farace – 2 points (2 goals), 2 ground balls
Maci Black – 2 points (2 goals), 2 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls

Between the Pipes:
Lisa Martin (W, 1-3)  – 11 saves, 10 goals-against

How it Happened:
The Lions controlled the opening period as the hosts outscored the Pioneers 4-2, despite both teams recording six shots a piece, while each goalie only made one save.

SHU's first goal came at the 4:53 mark from Black, her second of the season, to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. The remainder of the period saw both teams exchange goals, with the Pioneers' second tally coming on a lucky bounce attempt from Araneo at 1:55.

Two minutes into the second, Farace made it a one-goal game, 4-3, as another lucky bounce helped put the ball past the Lions' keeper and into the back of the net. The Pioneers continued to battle offensively tallying back-to-back shot attempts from Araneo and Jamie Tanner, but solid goalkeeper kept the visitors from tying the game at five, while the Lions doubled their lead, 6-3, heading into the halftime.

Coming out of the break, SHU and Columbia exchanged goals, once again, to bring the score to 7-4, in favor of the hosts. Momentum began to shift from the Lions to the Pioneers when the visitors scored three unanswered goals to tie the game at 7-7 with 14:05 left in regulation. 

Shortly after, Columbia resumed a one-goal lead, 8-7, but an Insinga goal at 12:18 sparked a three-goal run that extended the Pios' lead to two, 10-8, with 8:25 left on the clock. The Lions responded by cutting the deficit to within one, 10-9, at the 2:13 mark behind a goal from Dani Falcone, but another Farace goal with less than a minute to play pushed the Pios' lead back to two, 11-9. 

Columbia's final attack came with 12 seconds left on the clock, but it wasn't enough as the visitors won the final draw control and kept the Lions from gaining offensive control. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers return to Campus Field on Wednesday, March 5 with a home showdown against the University of New Hampshire. Game time is slated for 3:00 PM.