(Fenton, MO) – The Sacred Heart University Field Hockey team used goals from Chelsea Carlson (Peterborough, NH), Leah Salindong (Spring City, PA), and Maddie Hoeppner (Buckland, MA) to beat the St. Louis University Billikens 3-2 in the 2011 season opener at the Anheuser-Busch Center.

After Nicole Kent put St. Louis on top with a deflection goal to open the scoring at 6:45 of the first, Sacred Heart answered with two goals to close out the half with a 2-1 lead.  Carlson scored at 15:50 after a scramble that followed a penalty corner, with Nikki Kimborowicz (Biddeford, ME) picking up an assist.  Salindong gave Sacred Heart the lead for good at 26:29 with a low shot from the right side, set up by Sarah Bergman (Blandon, BA) on the freshman's first career assist.

Hoeppner scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 57:27, sneaking in a low shot after a nice pass from the left by Kate Boyd (Nottingham, NH).  Lexie Linblad drilled a goal from left at 69:13, with Kent picking up the assist to cut the SHU lead to 3-2.  That is as close as the Pioneers would allow the Billkins to get, with SHU pulling out the victory.

Kim Stow (Norwalk, CT) made three saves on the afternoon in goal for Sacred Heart.

The Pioneers take on Missouri State Saturday at 12:00 p.m. EST, also at the Anheuser-Busch Center.