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Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Pioneers
SHU Field Hockey
Greg Vasil
2
Winner Sacred Heart SHU (6-10, 4-3 NEC)
0
Saint Francis SFU (10-7, 5-2 NEC)
Winner
Sacred Heart SHU
(6-10, 4-3 NEC)
2
Final
0
Saint Francis SFU
(10-7, 5-2 NEC)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Sacred Heart SHU 0 0 1 1 2
Saint Francis SFU 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Field Hockey | | Matthew Janik

Second-Half Surge Sends SHU Past Saint Francis, 2-0, and Into Postseason

Chamberlain and Skumurski strike in second half

LORETTO, Pa. (October 27, 2023) – A Wagner victory earlier in the day turned Friday's Northeast Conference finale into a must-win affair for the Sacred Heart University field hockey team, on the road at Saint Francis. The Pios were up to the challenge, as Isabelle Chamberlain (North Yorkshire, United Kingdom) and Claire Skumurski (Niskayuna, N.Y.) put home second-half goals to lead the visitors to a 2-0 victory and a berth in the NEC Championship.
 
With the win, Sacred Heart (6-10, 4-3 NEC) returns to the postseason for the first time since 2019, and will be the third seed in the conference tournament. The Pios will face a rematch against second-seeded Saint Francis (10-7, 5-2 NEC) in semifinal play on Friday, Nov. 3. Wagner will host the NEC Championship in Staten Island, N.Y.
 
The first half of Friday's affair went uneventfully, with each team putting just two shots on goal and coming away with nothing to show for it. It was well into the third quarter before SHU broke the ice on a penalty corner in the 39th minute. Abby Lauer (Hummelstown, Pa.) sent the ball to the top of the circle for Chamberlain, who did her thing from there. A long shot through traffic deflected off the SFU keeper and found the net for her team-leading seventh of the season.
 
The Pios held the 1-0 lead through the quarter break and then Skumurski put home some important insurance just 65 seconds into the fourth. Jaden Ray (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) provided the setup and Skumurski had a nifty, lofted, reverse-stick finish from distance on the right side of the circle, for her fifth of the campaign.
 
Samantha Maresca (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) finished with four saves, three of which came during the third quarter, to pick up the win (6-9) and her second shutout of the season. Emma Brayford (Breiningsville, Pa.) chipped in a defensive save along the way and SHU did not allow a shot on goal in the fourth quarter while closing things out.
 
Amber Bryan (9-5) made just one save against three shots in defeat for SFU.
 
The Pios close out the regular season on Sunday, as they remain in the Keystone State to take on Lock Haven in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for noon at Smith Field in Lock Haven, Pa.
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