LORETTO, Pa. — Three first-half goals provided insurance as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team kept its Northeast Conference (NEC) playoff hopes alive, defeating Saint Francis, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon. 
 
In a must-win game, the Pioneers started out on the front foot, taking the lead in the 7^th minute as Grace O'Hara scored her eighth goal of the season. After deflecting a clearing attempt by SFU, first year defender Lindsay McShea whipped a cross into the box that O'Hara slotted home as the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead. 
 
Four minutes later, the Pios doubled the margin with Shea Kelleher's sixth goal of the season on the counterattack. With SHU pressing numbers forward after a failed SFU set piece, O'Hara sent a header into the box that Kelleher slotted past SFU goalkeeper Sarah McConnon with a first-time finish to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage. 
 
The Pios continued the onslaught in the first 15 minutes as Theanna Burnett earned her first collegiate goal off a corner kick. With a looping cross into the box from McShea, Burnett sent a thunderous header into the corner to give SHU a 3-0 advantage. 
 
SFU pulled one back in the 29^th minute as Aixa Helbringer-Escobar after SHU failed to clear a Red Flash corner kick. Helbringer-Escobar received a pass inside the box and fired a shot to the near post that beat SHU goalkeeper Elyssa Kipperman to give the home side life heading into the final minutes of the first half. However, the Pioneers held the Red Flash at bay for the remaining 16 minutes, taking a 3-1 lead into the break. 
 
Just over 10 minutes into the second half, SFU cut the deficit to one goal after Helbringer-Escobar earned her second goal of the game. After a shot deflected off a SHU defender, Helbringer-Escobar sent a left-footed shot into the corner past an outstretched Kipperman to make it 3-2 with just over half an hour to play. 
 
The Pioneers held on to the lead as SFU fired five shots in the second frame but could only connect on Helbringer-Escobar's 56^th minute strike as the Red & White held onto their lead, ultimately taking all three points by way of a 3-2 win. 
 
Top Performers:

• Grace O'Hara: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots
• Shea Kelleher: 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
• Theanna Burnett: 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
• Lindsay McShea: 2 assists
• Elyssa Kipperman: 2 saves

 
Of Note:

• Martyna Krzysztopik made her first career start for the Pioneers, playing 68 minutes in the win. 
• O'Hara's eighth goal of the season ties her single-season career-high in goals and ties her for third most in a single season in program history. Her 7^th-minute strike is her 24^th career goal which puts her one below the all-time career goal scoring record set by Paula Pineda (2000-03) who scored 25 goals. 
• O'Hara's three points is the fourth time this season she has recorded three or more points in a single match. She now leads the Pioneers with 20 points this season which ties her career-best set in the 2021 season. 
• O'Hara now sits at 59 career points which is one point below the all-time points record (60) set by Paula Pineda (2000-03). 
• McShea's two assists is the most assists she has recorded in a game in her career and the third time this season she has recorded at least two points in a match. 
• Kelleher has now scored a goal in three of the last four matches.

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers conclude the regular season at home on Thursday, October 26, with an Alumni Night matchup against Le Moyne. Kickoff from Park Ave Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.