Pios Blank Jaspers 2-0 for Micros' Milestone Win

Thursday, September 7

Riverdale, N.Y. / Gaelic Park

7 p.m.

Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics

1-3-2, 0-0-0

Manhattan

1-3-1, 0-0-0

Sacred Heart

Manhattan

Photo by: Greg Vasil

Pios Blank Jaspers 2-0 for Micros' Milestone Win

9/7/2023 10:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

O'Hara and Medeiros score in Micros' century-mark victory

By: Cameron McClarren

RIVERDALE, N.Y. — Junior Grace O'Hara's third goal of the season and Kelly Medeiros' insurance goal provided the difference as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team earned its first win of the season, blanking Manhattan College, 2-0.

The Pioneers started the first half with a frenzy, quickly forcing Manhattan goalkeeper Margaret Brunk into three saves within the first half hour. The Pios eventually broke through in the 34^th minute as Grace O'Hara slotted the ball into the net to give the visitors a well-earned 1-0 lead. The Red & White continued to surge in the final minutes of the first half as they took a commanding 6-1 advantage in shots on goal into the halftime break.

Manhattan came out strong after the break as they searched for the equalizer, but could not find the finishing touch with SHU's first year goalkeeper Kyran Thievon stuffing the few second half chances for the Jaspers. Thievon finished the match recording a three-save shutout for her first collegiate win. The Pios earned some breathing room as junior Kelly Medeiros found the back of the net with under seven minutes to go, finishing off any chance of a Manhattan comeback as SHU secured the 2-0 victory.

With the win, head coach Matt Micros earned his 100^th career collegiate win as a head coach. Micros entered the 2023 campaign on 99 career wins, having earned 64 wins in seven seasons at Post University before spending the last five seasons at SHU, ushering the Pioneers to a 35-39-10 record and the program's first championship appearance since 2007 last season.

Top Performers:

Kelly Medeiros (SHU): 1 goal, 2 shots on goal
Grace O'Hara (SHU): 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
Morgan Bovardi (SHU): 2 shots, 1 shot on goal
Kyran Thievon (SHU): 1 shutout, 3 saves

Of Note:

With the 2-0 win, first year goalkeeper Kyran Thievon earned her first collegiate win and shutout.
Grace O'Hara now leads the Pioneers in goals (3) after her first half tally and has now scored in consecutive games for the fourth time in her career.
Kelly Medeiros' second half goal is her first goal since scoring in SHU's 5-0 win over LIU in last season's NEC Tournament quarterfinal while making her the third Pioneer to score a goal this season.
Nichol Green earned her first assist and point of the season after finishing last season on a three-match point streak and finishing the 2022 campaign with 10 points (3 goals, 4 assists).
Two Pioneers made their season debuts in the win as senior Jordan Busch and graduate student Mia Sansanelli made appearances off the bench.
In total, 24 Pioneers appeared in Wednesday night's match.
With the win, head coach Matt Micros earned his 100^th career collegiate win as a head coach.
The win also marks the fifth consecutive victory for the Pioneers over the Jaspers in the all-time series.

Scoring Summary:
34' – Grace O'Hara opened the scoring after receiving a pass from teammate Nichol Green just inside the Manhattan penalty area, slotting the ball into the back of the net with a hard, low strike into the middle of the net. Sacred Heart 1, Manhattan 0

84' – After a barrage of attacks from the hosts, Sacred Heart doubled the lead as Kelly Medeiros wired a looping shot from outside the penalty area that went past Manhattan goalkeeper Margaret Brunk and into the top-left corner of the net. Sacred Heart 2, Manhattan 0

Up Next:
The Pioneers conclude their two-game road swing on Sunday, September 10, closing the weekend against Boston College in Newton, Mass., with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. Live statistics and streaming will be available at sacredheartpioneers.com.