SHELTON, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's hockey team bid farewell to their 2020-21 season in the final matchup against conference rivals LIU on Wednesday. The Pioneers lost 4-1 against the Sharks on Senior Day.

SHU's up-and-down season only consisted of nine games. The team's four conference games were all against LIU, who was the only other NEWHA program with a season besides Franklin Pierce. 

Senior Kayla Walewski started for the Pioneers, garnering a career-high of 34 saves. Before this contest, Walewski earned 15 against Saint Michael's last January, with her season-high reaching 33 in the 2019-2020 season.

The Pioneers and Sharks were knotted at zero through the first two periods, with SHU attempting 21 shots out of 25 and the visitors with 23-38. 

Sacred Heart had three power-play opportunities in the second period but remained off the scoreboard. On the other side of the puck, LIU had four chances to score against the shorthanded Pioneers but could only capitalize on one in the final seconds of the match. 

Sharks Paula Bergström initiated the goals 3:45 into the third period. Junior Kelly Solak evened the playing field with her first season goal three minutes later, assisted by teammate Katie Calliguri. LIU was quick to retaliate 14 seconds later to put the Sharks up 2-1. 

Two more Shark goals sealed the deal for the season finale between these two teams. The Pioneers drop to 1-8-0 to conclude the short season.

With only four seniors on the roster, head coach Thomas O'Malley looks to develop his youthful core for next season, hopefully, slated with a full schedule.