SHELTON, Conn. — For the first full-fledged NEWHA Tournament since the 2019-20 season, the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team will compete in its fifth post-season tournament in its five years as a Division I program. On Tuesday, the Red & White are scheduled to host Post at 7:30 p.m. at the SportsCenter of CT in Shelton, Conn.

The team posted a 15-14-2 overall record and 10-8-2 in the conference, while the visitors finished 6-25-0 and 3-17-0.

"The team has worked hard all year long, and they know exactly what they are capable of heading into the NEWHA Playoffs," head coach Thomas O'Malley said when asked about the team's postseason preparation. "Our best hockey of the year is still in front of us."

The Pioneers have a perfect record against Post this season in six matchups. Four of the six meetings this year counted towards the teams' conference mark and SHU maintained its 23-0 all-time series record intact.

Sacred Heart looks to leading scorer Anna Klein to send the team to the Semifinals. Klein leads the league in assists with 22 and in points with 36. The co-captain has a team-high 14 goals which is second in NEWHA.
The senior has accounted for three goals and six assists in five games against Post this season including assisting in the game-winning goals in three.

As go-to right and left defenders, coach O'Malley trusts Kelly Solak and Nicole Guidi to hold down the fort behind the blueline. Solak is tied in the league with a career-high nine goals across all defensive players, while Guidi is third with eight for. The seniors are tied for second with 12 assists in 31 games played.

Guidi is a three-time NEWHA Defensive Player of the Week with 60 blocks this season. The senior also had her first career hat trick in the 6-3 victory at Saint Michael's on November 20.

In her first year as co-captain, Solak earned her first Defensive Player of the Week honor on October 12 with 57 blocks.

Frankie Sanchez concluded the regular season with a career-high .928 save percentage with 723 saves and 56 goals against in 25 games. The senior is third in NEWHA in goals against average (2.15) and saves (773), and ranks fifth in save percentage (.928) and win percentage (.444).

Among first-year Pioneers, Katie Keenan leads SHU with five goals and eight points in 26 contests. The Hingham, Mass. native also drilled in the game-winning goal at Johnson & Wales on December 3 to snap the 2-2 tie in the final period.

During the regular season, SHU has scored 25 goals against the Eagles and only gave up five. The team has a career average 6.09 goals against the in-state opponent with 140 total in four seasons.

Franklin Pierce and LIU wrapped up the regular season of play as co-Regular Season Champions, each finishing with exactly 32 points. With one extra NEWHA victory during league play, Franklin Pierce was awarded hosting rights for both the league semifinals and its championship game.

The NEWHA Semifinals will begin on March 4 at the Jason Ritchie '05 Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass. With a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. and concluding at 7 p.m. The NEWHA title will be up for grabs on Saturday at 7 p.m.