FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team returns to the ice this weekend for its first conference games of the season, playing a home-and-home against defending-NEWHA Champions LIU on Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena is slated for 2 p.m. on Friday, while Saturday's contest in East Meadow, N.Y., is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers suited up for their first weekend series of the season last weekend against Minnesota State but could not pull off an upset either night, falling to the Mavericks, 9-0 and 7-1, on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Kate Helgeson scored the lone goal for the Pios on Saturday night after going coast-to-coast from her own zone, beating a defender inside the MSU zone, and wiring a backhand over the blocker side into the top corner to make it a 4-1 game before the Mavericks scored three unanswered goals.  
 
Sophomore goaltender Jillian Petruno made 65 saves on the weekend in 91 minutes of game action. Petruno stopped 29 shots on Friday night after relieving Carly Greene between the pipes before stopping a career-high 36 shots in her first collegiate start.
 
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
LIU heads to Martire Family Arena having dropped its first four games of the season against a pair of top-10 teams including #5 Northeastern (Sept. 29-30) and #7 Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 6-7). The Sharks are led by second-year head coach Kelly Nash who comes into this weekend's series having led the Sharks to a 20-14-3 record last season while claiming the NEWHA Regular season and Tournament Championships in her maiden campaign. The Sharks were picked to finish first in the conference, having received six of eight possible first place votes in the NEWHA Preseason Coaches' Poll while also receiving votes in the USA Hockey Preseason Poll. 
 
LIU returns three of its top goal scorers from a season ago with junior Jeannie Wallner having led the Sharks with 15 goals a year ago. Carrigan Umpherville and Makayla Lantto return to the squad having posted 10 goals each. In between the pipes, Tindra Holm returns for her junior year and has already amassed 174 saves through LIU's first four games. Holm was named a National Women's Goalie of the Year semifinalist and tabbed NEWHA Tournament MVP last season after posting a 2.03 GAA and .932 save percentage.
 
KEEPING IT 100
Graduate forward Cassie Nevers hit the 100-game plateau last Friday against Minnesota State, becoming the third Pioneer on this season's roster with 100 games played. Graduate forward Sophie Lupone hit the mark last season on February 11, 2023 in what was a 2-1 victory for the Pioneers on the road against LIU. Graduate transfer Emily Wisnewski leads the Pioneers in games played with 125, having played 122 games in four seasons at Clarkson before donning the Red & White.
 
ICEBREAKERS
 
The 2023 Women's Ice Breaker Tournament makes its way to Connecticut for the first time in its short history as Sacred Heart will host third installment of the tournament at Martire Family Arena on October 20-21.
 
The Pioneers join a list of first-time participants alongside Lindenwood (CHA), Northeastern (Hockey East) and St. Cloud State (WCHA). St. Cloud State and Northeastern kick off the tournament at 4 p.m. on Friday evening, followed by SHU versus Lindenwood in the nightcap. The third-place game is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon with the Championship game scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.