NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Jillian Petruno's career afternoon was not enough to propel a comeback attempt as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team fell to #11/11 Connecticut on Saturday afternoon, 3-1.
In a grudging first period, the Huskies came out of the blocks on the front foot, quickly amassing a 10-0 shot advantage through the first 10 minutes of action as the Pios committed two minor infractions. Having been stymied on their two opportunities on the power-play, the Huskies finally broke the deadlock as Jada Habisch's shot bounced off of SHU netminder
Jillian Petruno and barely rolled past the goal line to open the scoring with just over two minutes to play as the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
After a rough start to the game, SHU came out swinging in the second looking to get back in the game. Having amassed three quick shots on frame, the Red & White knotted the game at one after
Paige McNeil earned her third goal of the season, wiring a wrist shot past the glove hand of UConn's Megan Warrener just under five minutes into the period.
Just past the halfway point of the second period, the Huskies earned a golden opportunity after two-consecutive SHU penalties placed the Pios two-skaters down for 48 seconds. Though SHU killed off the first minor, UConn was able to strike on their fourth power play opportunity of the game as Habisch sent a wrist shot past the glove of Petruno to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Moments later, Brooke Campbell sent a wrist shot past a SHU defender and Petruno on the rush to give UConn a 3-1 lead that they saw into the second intermission.
The Pios came out in the third looking to get within striking distance after entering the period with 1:48 left on the power play but could not funnel any chances on net as Warrener held strong through the period. The Huskies continued to pressure through the rest of the game, but Petruno held strong, stymying the Huskies en route to a third period shutout as the Pios fell, 3-1.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- McNeil's second period tally is her first goal since scoring in the weekend finale against Stonehill on November 11.
- Petruno's 23 saves in the first period is the most in a single period this season.
- Petruno's 53 saves is her most saves in a single-game in her career and the most saves by a single SHU netminder in a game this season.
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to play next weekend, hosting Assumption for the first time this season on Saturday, December 2 with puck drop from Martire Family Arena set for 7 p.m. More information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.
