FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fresh off its second New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) sweep of the month, the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team continues its road trek to finish November with a midweek matchup against Franklin Pierce on Tuesday, November 21, with puck drop at Jason Richie Arena slated for 7 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers began their season-long five-game road stretch with a sweep over Saint Michael's last weekend for their second NEWHA sweep of the season and their fifth win in the last six games. 
 
Sacred Heart battled for a full 60-minute display in game one as Sydney Antonakis' second period tally was the only goal of the night as the Pios took a 1-0 win over the Purple Knights. In the win, SHU netminder Jillian Petruno recorded her first collegiate shutout, stopping all 25 Saint Michael's shots as the Pios earned their first road win of the season and an important two points to open the weekend. 
 
In game two, SHU jumped out to a three-goal lead as a trio of Pioneers cashed in through the first 40 minutes of play. Cassie Nevers opened the scoring halfway through the first period for her first of two goals on the night before Emily Wisnewski scored her second goal of the season to put Sacred Heart on top 2-0 heading into the first intermission. Antonakis pushed the lead to three with a power-play tally as the visitors held a 3-1 advantage after two periods. Early in the third, Grayson Limke scored her first collegiate goal before Nevers bookended the scoring just 26 seconds later as the Pioneers took a 5-1 win and its second sweep of a conference opponent this month. 
 
PIERCING THE RAVENS
Franklin Pierce heads into Tuesday's contest having gone 2-2 in its last four games since facing the Pioneers earlier this month. After sweeping Post two weeks ago, outscoring the Eagles at home, 9-1, the Ravens were tripped up by Saint Anselm last weekend, falling both nights, including a 2-1 loss in overtime in game one. 
 
Mikayla Kelley leads the Ravens in all scoring categories, amassing a 6-6-12 scoreline through 12 games this season. Seniors Emilie Prive and Claire Casey are not too far behind Kelley, earning nine and eight points, respectively, having appeared in all 12 games so far this season. In net, Franklin Pierce is led by a duo of sophomores as Jill Hertl and Olivia Klunowski have split time between the pipes to begin the season.
 
In the first meeting between the two squads, the Pioneers caught the Ravens searching on both nights including a thrilling 2-1 comeback win in the series finale as SHU completed its first sweep of the season. Antonakis and Isabella Chaput were the offensive catalysts for the Pios, scoring six of the seven goals of the weekend while netminder Petruno earned her first wins of the season. 
 
UP NEXT
The Pios wrap up the road stretch this weekend with an appearance in the Nutmeg Classic on Friday, November 24, and Saturday, November 25, at Yale's historic Ingalls Rink. The Red & White will take on the host, Yale, on Friday at 3 p.m. before facing either UConn or Quinnipiac on Saturday with puck drop slated for either 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.