FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Following a weekend one-off against new conference opposition last weekend, the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team hits the ice this weekend for a home-and-home conference series against Post on Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9. Puck drop from the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, Conn., on Friday is slated for 1:30 p.m. while Saturday's matinee from Martire Family Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers continued their climb in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) standings, defeating conference newcomer Assumption last Saturday, 1-0. In a contentious, hard-nosed affair, the Pioneers started the final month of the 2023 portion of the schedule in good stead as Isabella Chaput's game-winning power-play goal early in the third period was all it took to secure two conference points. 
 
In the win, Chaput earned her seventh goal of the season to usher her into a tie for the team-lead in goals while also breaking her five-game scoring draught. Sophomore netminder Jillian Petruno also earned her second collegiate shutout with the win, making 36 saves on the night to help the Pios close the door on a Greyhounds comeback. 
 
EXAMINING THE EAGLES 
Post heads into the weekend having dropped its last nine games, amassing a 3-15 overall record this season with all three wins coming in conference play. The Eagles faced tough opposition last weekend, engaging with LIU in a home-and-home series that saw the Sharks extend their win-streak to 12 games en route to outscoring Post, 10-0, on the weekend. Post also fell in their midweek matchup against Dartmouth on Wednesday afternoon, 7-1, to start their three-game weekend. 
 
Sophomore Maddy Noonan leads the Eagles in points this year, laying down a 2-4-6 line through 17 games so far. Noonan's four assists are tied for the team lead along with freshman Celena Mickevicius. Junior Julia Wysocki holds the lead in goals with three on the year after earning a hat trick against Assumption on Oct. 21. In goal, Hannah Saunders and Grace Glasrud have split the starts with both goalies posting above .908 save percentages this season. 
 
Behind the bench, Gretchen Silverman leads the Eagles in her second season, amassing a 7-44-2 record during her tenure. After a 4-29-2 record in 2022-23, the Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the conference this season and currently sit seventh in the standings.