Box Score NEW HAVEN, CONN. – The Sacred Heart University field hockey team was able to hold off a second half comeback on Monday night to record a 3-2 victory at Yale. The two met just two days after their original matchup was postponed due to weather less then two minutes into the game on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Mary Altepeter played a key role in helping the Pioneers (2-2) establish a first half lead as she saved eight shots in the opening 35 minutes. Just as it looked like the teams would battle to a scoreless first period, SHU surged for two goals in the final six minutes. The first goal by Lauren Lawson, assisted by Danielle Gallagher, was the freshman's first of her collegiate career. Two minutes later, Christine Mace added her second of the season to give Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead heading into half.
The Pioneers would look to put the game away for good when Kylee Lowndes scored nine minutes into the second half. It was the senior's first goal of the season, and put Sacred Heart up 3-0 with just over 25 minutes remaining.
Yale (0-2) would make things difficult for the Pioneers as they continued to attack the Sacred Heart net. Altepeter continued to hold strong until the Bulldogs finally broke through in the 54th minute on a goal by Jessie Accurso. With four minutes remaining, Yale would score again to cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal by Nicole Wells.
Altepeter (2-2) would be forced to make one last save with just over one minute remaining to secure the SHU victory. For the night, she recorded 13 saves. Her counterpart, Heather Schlesier (0-2), stopped five shots in the defeat. In a game in which both goalies saw a lot of action, the Bulldogs outshot the Pioneers 20-11.
The Pioneers will return to action on Friday night when the Saint Louis Billikens visit Campus Field. The match is scheduled to start at 7 PM.
