SYOSSET, NY — The postseason for the Sacred Heart University women's hockey program came to a close in game two of the Commissioner's Cup on Thursday. The Pioneers couldn't force a game three, falling to the Sharks, 5-2.

The Pioneers dominated the opening period as Sacred Heart outshot the Sharks 10-5. Assistant captain Kelly Solak kicked-off the scoring for the Pioneers off a power-play goal for her second of the series coming 15:02 into the period to put SHU ahead 1-0. 

After the opening period, LIU would take control of the game as Matilda af Bjur tied up the game with a little over five minutes left in the second period. 

The Sharks' dominated the offensive zone with three more goals before Sophie Lupone connected puck to net for the Pioneers for the second time this season to narrow the LIU lead to 4-2. 

With seconds left in the game, af Bjur's final empty-net goal for a hat trick edged out any possibilities for the Pioneers to force a third game in the series.

Sacred Heart had 25 shots on goal through the three periods with six coming off of Solak's stick, while Long Island took 35. Goaltender Frankie Sanchez made 30 saves against the Sharks, letting up four goals.

SHU concludes the 2020-21 season with a 1-10 overall record while the Sharks finished with a 5-8 record. First-year Paige McNeil was the highlight for the Pioneers on the offensive front tallying four goals and two assists for six points in the 11 games played. In net, junior goalie Sanchez tallied the most saves in her career in 10 games played with 459 while accumulating a save percentage of .911 which is just .02 points off her season-high.