FAIRFIELD, Conn.— The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team saw its historic season come to an end in the Northeast Conference Championship as they fell to fourth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University in penalty kicks after the teams played a 2-2 tie through two overtime periods.
Records:
#3 Sacred Heart: 11-5-5, (5-1-3 NEC)
#4 Fairleigh Dickinson: 8-10-3. (5-2-2 NEC)
Top Performers:
Grace O'Hara (SHU): 1 goal, 1 assist
Morgan Bovardi (SHU): 1 goal
Nichol Green (SHU): 1 assist
Elyssa Kipperman (SHU): 13 saves (11-5-5)
Kiomy Luperon (FDU): 1 goal
Aitana Martinez-Montoya (FDU): 1 goal (PK)
Of Note:
O'Hara kicked off scoring three minutes into the second half as she received a feed from Green, to head it past FDU goalkeeper Malene Nielson for a 1-0 Pioneers lead.
Luperon tied the game, 1-1 for FDU in the 55th minute. Within two minutes, the Knights were awarded a penalty kick where Martinez-Montoya was able put it away for a 2-1 lead.
In the final three minutes of regulation, O'Hara sent Bovardi a feed that she was able to bring in for a breakaway to tie the game 2-2 to send the game to overtime.
After two overtime periods, FDU became the NEC Champions after a 5-4 penalty kick shootout.
The Pioneers were playing in their first conference championship appearance since 2007.
Sacred Heart ends the season with the new program record for wins in a season with 11.
Head coach
Matt Micros won his first NEC postseason game with Sacred Heart last Sunday, October 30th with a 5-0 first-round victory over LIU.
