FAIRFIELD, Conn. — On the strength of five different goal scorers, Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey christened the 2023-24 season with a 5-2 win over Saint Michael's College on Friday afternoon.
The Pios dominated the early part of the opening stanza and earned themselves the first power play of the game just three minutes in. After a flurry of SHU shots, the Pioneers finally broke through as
Jenna Nikles scored her first collegiate goal on a wraparound shot that beat the outstretched left pad of Saint Michael's Annika Lavender.
The Red & White doubled their lead halfway through the period as Quinnipiac transfer
Kate Helgeson earned her first goal as a Pioneer on a 2-on-1, beating Lavender on a backhand shot to make it 2-0. Saint Michael's would get one back late in the period as Mikaela Langbacka capitalized on a SHU turnover in the offensive zone, wiring a shot off the bar and past SHU's
Carly Greene to put the visitors on the board.
The Purple Knights found their footing early in the second period as the Pioneers committed a costly penalty in the period's opening minute. Late in the power play, Saint Michael's Langbacka found a loose puck after a scrum ensued in the crease, putting the puck past Greene to level the game 2-2.
SHU regained the lead halfway through the frame after a faceoff win in its own zone led to a rush chance the other way as
Kailey Smith scored her first goal of the season, firing a wrist shot into the corner of the net to give SHU a 3-2 lead. The Pios continued to pressure through the remainder of the period and earned a late-period tally as
Sophie Lupone found herself with a breakaway chance, going five hole on Lavender to send the Pioneers into the break up by two.
Both teams came out of the second intermission looking to push for the important next goal but could not finish off any chances for a majority of the final period. The best chance for SMC went begging as Greene stood tall on a sharp angle shot from Langbacka leaving her hat trick bid out to dry. With less than a minute left and the Saint Michael's net empty, the Pios iced the game as
Isabella Chaput scored her first collegiate goal to give the home side an eventual 5-2 win.
Top Performers
Of Note:
- Three players scored their first goals while donning the Red & White. Kate Helgeson earned her first Pioneer goal, while Isabella Chaput and Jenna Nikles scored their first collegiate goals in their first collegiate games, respectively.
- Graduate student Sophie Lupone scored her first goal since a 2-1 game one win in last season's NEWHA quarterfinal tilt against Franklin Pierce.
- Kailey Smith tallied a goal for the first time since a 2-2 tie against Post on January 31, 2023.
- SHU held Saint Michael's to 1-4 on the power play (.25) while the Pioneers converted on their lone opportunity of the night. The Pioneers posted the nation's best penalty kill last season at 92.7%.
Up Next:
The Pioneers return to action next weekend taking on (RV) Minnesota State in a non-conference tilt on October 6-7. Puck drop at Martire Family Arena is slated for 7 p.m. on both nights. Live statistics and streaming information will be available in sacredheartpioneers.com.
