FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team fights for a chance to hoist its first Northeast Conference trophy this Friday in the semifinal match against #2 Fairleigh Dickinson. The postseason tournament will be hosted by top-seeded Central Connecticut State. Game time is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN3 and NEC Front Row. 
 
THE MATCHUP 

• FDU downed the Pioneers during the regular season, 2-0. 
• SHU outshot the Knights during the contest, 18-10, and led in corners, 7-2, but couldn't capitalize. 
• Sacred Heart has yet to score against FDU since 2018. The Pioneers look to snap the three-year losing streak as the Knights hold the all-time series record, 6-9-2.  

 
PIOS IN POSTSEASON

• The Pioneers return to the NEC semifinal for their first time since 2019 when they fell to #1 Central Connecticut, 3-1. Now junior, Meadow Mancini, netted the lone goal for SHU.
• SHU has yet to win a semifinal matchup since topping CCSU, 2-1, in 2007. The Pioneers ultimately fell to Monmouth in the championship game, 1-0.  
• Sacred Heart's highest regular-season finish was #2 in 2003. 
• 2002 marked Sacred Heart's first NEC Postseason appearance.

 
ROOKIE SEASON

• First-year Grace O'Hara leads the Pioneers in goals (7) and assists (4). 
• Leads the conference in multiple categories including points per game (1.29), game-winning goals (4), shots per game (3.5) and shots on goal per game (2.0).
• Earned Rookie of the Week on two occasions (9/21 & 11/2) and Player of the Week (9/21).

 
ALL-NEC

• Junior Julie Gallotto highlighted the end-of-year awards with a First Team All-Northeast Conference nod. She held down the Pioneers defense in all 16 games and leads the team in minutes played. 
• Nichol Green, Anna Ludkiewicz and O'Hara earned Second Team recognition. O'Hara also earned a spot on the All-Rookie list. 

 
TEAM NOTABLES

• The Pioneers have won four of its last five games to end the regular season. The fifth game was a draw at Saint Francis, 1-1. SHU's last loss was against FDU, 2-0. 
• As a team, the Pioneers lead the conference averaging 5.69 corner kicks per game. They also rank second in multiple categories including scoring offense (1.50), shot accuracy (.498), shots per game (14.69), shots on goal per game (7.31) and total goals (24).
• SHU saw three overtimes this season, two of which ended in draws against Saint Francis and Fairfield. The Pios fell at Dartmouth in the first overtime period, 2-1.