FAIRFIELD, Conn. — After a pair of tough non-conference opponents, the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team starts a key conference stretch this weekend. The Pioneers travel to LIU on Friday for a key NEWHA showdown.

The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team comes out of the Thanksgiving break with a conference win at Post followed by two losses in the Nutmeg Classic to UCONN and Bemidji State.

Last week the Pioneers went 1-2 with both losses coming against tough opponents in the Nutmeg Classic. Following a 3-1 win against Post, SHU dropped a hard 3-2 decision to #15 UConn in the first game of the Nutmeg Classic. Goaltender Carly Greene stopped a career-high 54 shots against the Huskies. Fellow goalie Molly Elmore got the victory over Post. She rates third in the NEWHA with a 2.54 goals against average.

Coming into the weekend Kelly Solak is on a four-game point streak as she scored versus UConn and assisted on Kailey Smith's goal versus Bemidji State. Delani Mackay and Paige McNeil lead the Pioneers in scoring with 13 points apiece. McNeil assisted on Mackay's goal against the Huskies as SHU took an early first-period lead. Mackay is ranked fourth in the conference with nine goals.

LIU bested the Pioneers 4-3 at the Shelton Rinks earlier this year in their only contest of the season thus far. The Pioneers will look to control the game flow a little better in Friday's contest, as two of their three goals came after four-straight Shark goals in the Oct. 7 matchup. McNeil found the back of the net in that contest, as did Sophie Lupone and Katie Keenan.

Following the LIU contest, SHU wraps up the first half of the season at Saint Michael's, December 9-10.