FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Two goals in the first 15 minutes sealed the deal as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team locked up a Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament berth, defeating Le Moyne College, 2-0, on Thursday night. 
 
With playoff positioning on the line, the Pioneers wasted no time in the early going, immediately putting the Dolphins under pressure in their defensive third resulting in a goal within the first 10 minutes of action. 
 
In the 7^th minute, the Pios took the lead on Morgan Bovardi's eighth goal of the season. After forward Desiree Crawford settled down a cross from Lindsay McShea, Crawford relayed a one-touch pass in between two Dolphin defenders which Bovardi promptly smashed home with a right-footed effort into the far corner to take the 1-0 lead. 
 
The Red & White continued to push through the first quarter of an hour, doubling their lead with Victoria Constantine's first collegiate goal in the 15^th minute. After receiving a pass from McShea, Constantine found space and unleashed a right-footed rocket from 25 yards out that made it past the gloves of Le Moyne's Allison Moreau and into the top corner to give SHU a 2-0 lead early in the first half. 
 
The Pios continued to threaten through the rest of the frame, outshooting the visitors 12-7 through the first 45 minutes and headed into the break with a 2-0 lead. 
 
Following SHU's blissful start to the first half, the Dolphins came out looking to cut into the deficit within the first 10 minutes of the half. However, after mounting pressure against the home side, Le Moyne failed to generate a goal scoring opportunity as first year Kyran Thievon and her defensive aids held the Dolphins at bay, limiting the visitors to three shots in the frame. 
 
After dealing with the initial second-half attack from the Dolphins, SHU found its form and continued to up the pressure, putting six more shots, including four on frame, against the defense of Le Moyne. The Pios continued to find scoring chances in the attacking third but settled for the 2-0 result, solidifying postseason soccer for the third-consecutive season.
 
Top Performers:

• Morgan Bovardi: 1 goal, 3 shots on goal
• Victoria Constantine: 1 goal, 2 shots on goal
• Elyssa Kipperman: 4 saves 

 
Of Note: 

• Bovardi's 7^th minute tally is her eighth goal of the season, which ties her for the team lead in goal scoring with Grace O'Hara and is just one goal shy of her career-high in single-season scoring (9). 
• Constantine's tally is her first collegiate goal as she becomes the fourth Pioneer to record their first collegiate goal this season. 
• With two assists against Le Moyne, McShea has four points in the last two matches after being held scoreless in the previous seven matches. 
• Crawford earned her first point of the season with an assist on Bovardi's goal. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers begin their run in the NEC postseason tournament, hitting the road to take on Howard University on Sunday, October 29, with kickoff to be determined. More information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.