FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team suits up for its first weekend series of the season, hosting Minnesota State on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena is slated for 7 p.m. both nights. Friday night's tilt will be broadcasted locally on SNY and NEC Front Row, while Saturday's game will be broadcasted exclusively on NEC Front Row.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers began the 2023-24 campaign last weekend by defeating Saint Michael's College at home, 5-2, to kick off SHU's Family Weekend festivities. The Pios recorded a number of collegiate firsts in the win as Jenna Nikles and Isabella Chaput scored their first career goals in their first appearances in the Red & White, while Quinnipiac transfer, Kate Helgeson also got in on the scoring for her first goal as a Pio. Eight Pioneers recorded a point in the win, including four players who had multi-point outings. Between the pipes, junior Carly Greene made 34 saves for her first win of the season. SHU continued its dominance on special teams from a year ago, limiting Saint Michael's to one conversion on four power play opportunities while the Pios capitalized on their lone power play of the game. 
 
MAVERICK MATCHUP
(RV) Minnesota State heads to Connecticut to begin its 2023-24 campaign after posting a 15-20-1 record a season ago. Head coach John Harrington leads the Mavericks in his ninth season behind the bench accumulating a 72-173-25 record in Mankato, Minnesota. The Mavericks head into Friday's contest having received votes in this past week's USCHO National Poll and were picked sixth in the WCHA Coaches Poll with defending national champions, Wisconsin, tying Ohio State for the top spot.
 
 Jamie Nelson returns for her senior campaign after leading the Mavericks in points last season (26) while senior Madison Mashuga and sophomore Taylor Otremba round out the top returners in scoring from 2023.  Lauren Barbro leads the Mavericks in her senior season between the pipes going 7-10-0-2 last year and amassing a .911 save percentage and 2.98 goals against average. 
 
SCORING 20'S
The Pios top line of Kate Helgeson, Paige McNeil and Kailey Smith accounted for half of SHU's points in the win over Saint Michael's last weekend. Helgeson notched her first collegiate goal in the first period off the rush to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead halfway through the frame and notched the primary assist on Smith's game-winning goal in the second period, while Smith accumulated two points on the night with an assist on Helgeson's tally. McNeil earned her first points of the season with assists on both of her linemates' tally's in her first game since January 15, 2023. Isabella Chaput and Sydney Antonakis also found their way on the scoresheet last weekend as Chaput scored an empty net goal to push the lead to three with under 30 seconds left in the game while Antonakis earned assists on the first and last goals of the game.  
 
FOLLOWING THE PIOS
Live statistics and livestream information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.