WORCESTER, MA (March 18, 2012) - Sacred Heart senior Aurelie Pluijmakers (Freehold, NJ) scored a career-high six goals but the Pioneers couldn't overcome a five-goal halftime deficit on their way to a 15-12 loss at Holy Cross Sunday afternoon.  The Crusaders got six goals from Sara Hennessey in the win, evening their record at 4-4 on the year.  The Pioneers fall to 1-5 as they head toward the start of NEC play next week.

Holy Cross out shot the Pioneers 19-8 in the first half on their way to a 10-5 lead at the break. The Crusaders jumped up 3-0 five minutes in on goals by Taylor Zebrowski and two from Hennessey.  Pluijmakers tacked on her first at 24:04 and junior Emily Pepe (East Quogue, NY) followed three minutes later to cut the lead to 3-2.

The two teams traded goals four times over the next nine minutes with senior Kate Kmiotek (Farmingville, NY) pulling the Pioneers to within 5-4 at 12:49.  Hennessey notched her third to start the Crusaders off on a five-goal run over next 11 minutes.  SHU's Kelsey Russo (Lindenhurst, NY) closed the half with a goal at 15 seconds to send the Pioneers to the locker room down five.

Senior Katie Gerhard (Centennial, CO) cut the lead to four to start the second half but Hennessey struck twice more on a 4-1 run to double up the Pioneers 14-7 with 12 minutes to play. 

SHU made a run at a comeback thanks to Pluijmakers, pulling to within three late.  Pepe started the run with an unassisted marker at 11:16 and Pluijmakers followed with three-straight, two on feeds from Kmiotek.  Her third came at 6:17 to pull within 14-11 but Holy Cross got an unassisted score from Maddie Carrellas just 35 seconds later to kill the momentum.

Pluijmakers tacked on her sixth with 3:02 left. Kmiotek finished with a goal and four assists in the loss.  Pepe finished with two goals and three assists.

The Pioneers will open Northeast Conference play on Friday at LIU Brooklyn.

xxxxxxxxxx