FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Kailey Smith's power-play goal was not enough to mount the comeback as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team fell in its first conference match to LIU, 3-1, on Friday afternoon.
"When we were on, we were absolutely on and we had our opportunities," said head coach
Thomas O'Malley. "It was a hard-fought college hockey game and we felt like we had the opportunity to win."
In the first period, the Sharks had the first clear opportunity to gain the lead after
Olivia LaRoche was sent off for interference just under two minutes into the game but could not convert as the Pios held the Sharks without a shot on their first power play of the game.
With two minutes left to play in the period, the Sharks opened the scoring after a turnover in the SHU zone found the stick of Jeannie Wallner who fired a wrist shot off the shoulder of SHU netminder
Jillian Petruno and into the corner of the net to give LIU a 1-0 lead they saw into the first intermission.
The Pios entered the second period with just over a minute left on the power play after LIU's Mikayla Lantto was whistled for high sticking in the final minute of the first period. The Red & White came close to leveling the game as LaRoche's shot from the point beat LIU's Tindra Holm but was saved off the line by a defender as the Pios were unable to convert on their first power play opportunity of the day.
After killing off the penalty, the Sharks pressed in the offensive zone, eventually doubling their lead with Wallner's second goal of the game as she sent a backhand from the low slot under the leg of Petruno to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
SHU continued to pressure throughout the period, earning two more power play opportunities in the second period but could not find the back of the net as the Pios went 0-3 on the power play and headed into the final period down, 2-0.
Early in the third period, the Pios broke the scoring drought on their fourth power play of the game with Smith's second goal of the season. After an initial shot from
Campbell Heger was saved, Smith put home the rebound to cut the SHU deficit in half.
"We talked in between periods about how our effort weened at times but we definitely created and had our opportunities," said O'Malley. "Unfortunately, we only capitalized once on our opportunities."
The Sharks, however, would strike back five minutes later after a broken play led to Bri Eid being alone in the high slot as her wrist shot beat Petruno and gave the visitors back their two-goal advantage. The Pios continued to claw their way back into the game but could not solve Holm, whose 36 saves were enough to clinch the win as LIU rode out 3-1 victors.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- Smith's second goal of the season is now her fourth point in four games for the Pioneers after earning an assist in the second game last weekend against Minnesota State.
- SHU's 37 shots on goal are the most in a game this season.
- Smith's power play goal is the second special teams goal the Pioneers have scored on 10 total opportunities this season.
- Heger's assist on Smith's tally is her first collegiate assist and point.
- Emily Wisnewski's assist is her first point as a Pioneer and her 10th collegiate point.
- Friday's game marks the first time the Pioneers have not given up a special team's goal in any fashion.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns to the ice tomorrow on Saturday, October 14 for a rematch with LIU at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y., with puck drop scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.
