Sunday, October 29
Washington, DC / Greene Stadium
Noon
Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
at
Howard University
Photo by: Josh Gee
Pios Ready For Postseason Battle With Bison
10/28/2023 12:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SHU looking for third-consecutive semifinal appearance
FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Following a fifth-place finish in the regular season, the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team hits the road this weekend, taking on Howard University in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship quarterfinals on Sunday, October 29. Kickoff from Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C., is slated for noon.
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers took care of business in their regular season finale, dispatching Le Moyne College 2-0 on Thursday, October 26, to secure a postseason berth. The Pios started the match with a flare, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes en route to taking three points.
Morgan Bovardi opened the scoring in the 7th minute after funneling a shot past Le Moyne's Allison Moreau, tying her for the team lead in goals this season with eight. The Pios doubled the scoreline in the 15th minute as Victoria Constantine wired a right-footed shot form 25 yards out past Moreau and into the top corner for her first collegiate goal as SHU held on for the remaining 75 minutes to secure a fifth-place conference finish.
ON HOWARD
The Bison head into Sunday's contest having amassed an 11-5-2 record (6-3-1, 19 points NEC) in the 2023 season, having locked up fourth place in the conference with a win 3-0 win over Saint Francis on "Championship Thursday" that eliminated the Red Flash from playoff contention and gave the Pioneers an automatic placement in the postseason.
Howard is led by junior Melea Earley who paces the team with 12 goals and 28 points, while first year Samantha James holds the team lead in assists with seven. In goal, the Bison are led by first year Trinity Knox who boasts the conference's best save percentage (.827) and ranks second in goals against average (1.07).
Brent Leiba is in his 15th season at Howard, coaching the Bison this season to their best record since the 2019 campaign and their first-ever appearance in the NEC Championship. In the first meeting between the squads this season, the Bison took three points as Shea Kelleher's second half strike was not enough to promote the comeback as the Pioneers fell 3-1 at Park Ave Field.
THREE'S A CROWD
The Red & White are led in scoring by a trio of forwards who have all eclipsed the double-digit points plateau. Reigning All-NEC Tournament team member Grace O'Hara leads the Pios with 20 points on the season, tying her single-season career-high set in her rookie campaign while 2022 NEC Rookie of the Year Morgan Bovardi is second in scoring with eight goals and 19 points.
First year forward Shea Kelleher rounds out the Pioneers' top three in scoring with six goals and two assists, earning NEC Co-Rookie of the Week honors on October 2, after having a hand in all three of SHU's goals in a 3-0 win over LIU. Kelleher earned her first multi-goal performance, scoring a brace before assisting on Morgan Bovardi's fifth goal of the season in the 75th minute.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Six Pioneers have appeared in every match this season, including three players who have started all 18 matches this season. Graduate student Desiree Crawford and senior Maria Nolan have each appeared in every match this season, starting 17 and 15 times, respectively.
Junior Kelly Medeiros has been a staple in the midfield this season having started all 18 matches while racking up three points in the campaign. Medeiros scored her only goal this season in the win over Manhattan before earning an assist in SHU's 7-0 win over Delaware State.
The tandem of Bovardi, Kelleher and first year Lindsay McShea round out the list of Pioneers who have made their way onto the field in every match this season, with McShea and Bovardi having started all 18 matches. Bovardi has served as one of SHU's main attacking threats while McShea has been a staple on defense, leading the Pios this season having played 1,383 minutes. Kelleher has started in five of the last seven matches after her "super-sub" performance against LIU on September 28.
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers took care of business in their regular season finale, dispatching Le Moyne College 2-0 on Thursday, October 26, to secure a postseason berth. The Pios started the match with a flare, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes en route to taking three points.
Morgan Bovardi opened the scoring in the 7th minute after funneling a shot past Le Moyne's Allison Moreau, tying her for the team lead in goals this season with eight. The Pios doubled the scoreline in the 15th minute as Victoria Constantine wired a right-footed shot form 25 yards out past Moreau and into the top corner for her first collegiate goal as SHU held on for the remaining 75 minutes to secure a fifth-place conference finish.
ON HOWARD
The Bison head into Sunday's contest having amassed an 11-5-2 record (6-3-1, 19 points NEC) in the 2023 season, having locked up fourth place in the conference with a win 3-0 win over Saint Francis on "Championship Thursday" that eliminated the Red Flash from playoff contention and gave the Pioneers an automatic placement in the postseason.
Howard is led by junior Melea Earley who paces the team with 12 goals and 28 points, while first year Samantha James holds the team lead in assists with seven. In goal, the Bison are led by first year Trinity Knox who boasts the conference's best save percentage (.827) and ranks second in goals against average (1.07).
Brent Leiba is in his 15th season at Howard, coaching the Bison this season to their best record since the 2019 campaign and their first-ever appearance in the NEC Championship. In the first meeting between the squads this season, the Bison took three points as Shea Kelleher's second half strike was not enough to promote the comeback as the Pioneers fell 3-1 at Park Ave Field.
THREE'S A CROWD
The Red & White are led in scoring by a trio of forwards who have all eclipsed the double-digit points plateau. Reigning All-NEC Tournament team member Grace O'Hara leads the Pios with 20 points on the season, tying her single-season career-high set in her rookie campaign while 2022 NEC Rookie of the Year Morgan Bovardi is second in scoring with eight goals and 19 points.
First year forward Shea Kelleher rounds out the Pioneers' top three in scoring with six goals and two assists, earning NEC Co-Rookie of the Week honors on October 2, after having a hand in all three of SHU's goals in a 3-0 win over LIU. Kelleher earned her first multi-goal performance, scoring a brace before assisting on Morgan Bovardi's fifth goal of the season in the 75th minute.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Six Pioneers have appeared in every match this season, including three players who have started all 18 matches this season. Graduate student Desiree Crawford and senior Maria Nolan have each appeared in every match this season, starting 17 and 15 times, respectively.
Junior Kelly Medeiros has been a staple in the midfield this season having started all 18 matches while racking up three points in the campaign. Medeiros scored her only goal this season in the win over Manhattan before earning an assist in SHU's 7-0 win over Delaware State.
The tandem of Bovardi, Kelleher and first year Lindsay McShea round out the list of Pioneers who have made their way onto the field in every match this season, with McShea and Bovardi having started all 18 matches. Bovardi has served as one of SHU's main attacking threats while McShea has been a staple on defense, leading the Pios this season having played 1,383 minutes. Kelleher has started in five of the last seven matches after her "super-sub" performance against LIU on September 28.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfield
/ Women's Soccer2025 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship
Wednesday, November 12
Sacred Heart v Siena (International Stream)
Sunday, November 02
Sacred Heart v Iona
Wednesday, October 15
Mic'd Up: Casey Mulligan
Wednesday, September 17
