Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Needing a win to qualify for the Northeast Conference tournament, the Sacred Heart women's soccer team lost 1-0 to the Wagner Seahawks Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers finish the season 8-9-2 and 3-4-1 in the NEC, finishing two points behind Saint Francis U for the fourth and final tournament berth.
On a very windy day Sunday, Sacred Heart had the wind at its back in the first half. The wind was so strong that Wagner (9-6-3, 5-1-2 NEC) played in a defensive shell for a majority of the half. The Pioneers took advantage of the wind, taking five shots in the first eight minutes. Emily Dawidczyk (Oxford, Mass.) had three straight shots saved by Seahawks goalkeeper Katie Marcy. In the 13th minute, Chandler Antczak (Kendall Park, N.J.) hit a ball 40 yards right at Marcy. Jillian Picinich came close to putting the Pioneers in front in the 44th minute, but her header was stopped by Marcy. Sacred Heart outshot Wagner 12-0 in the first half, putting five shots on goal.
Wagner had its first shot of the game come in the 48th minute as Alyssa Azzinaro hit a ball that got caught in the wind and went wide of goal. In the 50th minute Amanda Buck took a shot from distance that was easily saved by Talia Schwartz (Roslyn, N.Y.). In the 55th minute, the Seahawks had a chance to get on the board when a Wagner play was fouled in the box for a penalty kick. Megan Fritz stepped up to the spot and hit a low shot cross-cage past Schwartz to give Wagner a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, Dawidczyk got free in the Wagner third and hit a shot just wide of the goal. Dawidczyk also had another shot go wide in the 78th minute. The Pioneers last chance to force overtime came in the 85th minute when Antczak headed a cross inches wide of the far post.
Sacred Heart outshot Wagner 18-7 for the game, putting six shots on goal to the Seahawks' three.
Prior to the game, Sacred Heart honored the five seniors on this season's team – Gabby Biagini, Chandler Antczak , Monica Re, Jillian Picinich, and Kristin Verrette.
