CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Kailey Smith's first-period tally and
Jillian Petruno's 33-save outing highlighted a contested battle as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team fell in its 2024 opener, capitulating to the Harvard Crimson on Tuesday night, 2-1.
In a rematch of a classic played out at Martire Family Arena last season, the Pioneers and Crimson battled through a contested first period that saw both teams find the back of the net. Having garnered the game's opening power play, the home side put a plethora of chances on frame but SHU netminder
Jillian Petruno was equal to every one, stopping five shots on the Crimson advantage early in the period.
Following the successful kill, the Pios clawed back into the contest, finding the back of the net on their second shot on goal to open the scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining in the frame. Following a defensive mishap at the Harvard blueline, sophomore forward
Kailey Smith gathered the loose puck and sent a wrist shot past Harvard's Alex Pellicci for her third goal of the season, giving SHU the 1-0 lead.
The home side, however, would not go away quietly in the opening frame, tying the game just under three minutes later as Gwyn Lapp converted on a breakaway opportunity. With a misplaced pass in the offensive zone, Lapp gathered the puck and traversed the ice, finally sending a wrist shot past the glove of Petruno to knot the game at 1-1 with under eight minutes to go in the frame.
Both squads were the victims of some hard hockey as the remainder of the period was spent with the special teams units on the ice, including an extended stay of four-on-three time for the Pios. However, neither side could convert on the advantage as the teams remained tied after 20 minutes of action.
Following an eventful first period, the second period would slow down for both teams as the Pioneers searched for their second lead of the night but could not find the back of the net as Pellicci closed the door in the middle frame on all eight shots. On the other end, the Pioneers continued to stuff the Harvard power play, stymying the Crimson's lone chance on the job early in the second period en route to a scoreless frame with the game tied, 1-1.
After outshooting the Crimson 8-6 in the middle frame, the Pios continued to push for the lead, but Harvard's Pellicci stayed strong through the early part of the frame. Following a few SHU chances, Harvard capitalized on another breakaway attempt to take its first lead of the night as Lapp earned her second of the game, poling a rebound past Petruno to give the home side a 2-1 lead with just over six minutes gone in the third period.
Halfway through the frame, the Pios had an opportunity to tie the game after Lapp was the culprit of a tripping minor but could not convert on their fourth opportunity of the night, ultimately going 0-for-4 on the personnel advantage. The Red & White continued to battle in the waning stages of the game but Pellicci held strong, allowing just the one goal on 17 SHU shots as the Pios fell, 2-1.
Top Performers:
Of Note:
- Kate Helgeson and Erin Fleming made their returns to the Pioneer lineup after extended absences.
- Smith's first period tally is her third of the season and first since the opening month of action, breaking a career-long 17 game goal-scoring draught after opening the season with two goals in four games.
- Petruno has now made 30 or more saves in each of her last five starts for the Pios after racking up 33 in Tuesday night's contest.
Up Next:
The Pioneers hit the ice again this weekend, returning to NEWHA play with a home-and-home against LIU on Friday, January 5 and Saturday, January 6. Puck drop on Friday from Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, New York is slated for 3 p.m. while Saturday's contest from Martire Family Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
