FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Lindsay McShea's 57^th minute strike was the lone goal of the game as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team defeated the Siena College Saints on Senior Day, 1-0. With the victory, the Pios earned a valuable three points toward a possible postseason berth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament. 
 
With a full complement of rest days, the Pios held a majority of the possession and chances in the opening frame, hemming Siena in their own half for the first 20 minutes. Having a handful of chances, the Pios looked to find the opening goal but could not find the finishing touches as the Saints' Cate Burns came up to make a handful of saves to keep the visitors within striking distance. 
 
Facing the SHU pressure, Siena eventually broke out of their own half, mustering a few chances on the counterattack that threated SHU goalkeeper Kyran Thievon. However, the sophomore goalkeeper was equal to every chance, stopping the lone shot on frame handidly as the teams headed into the break in a scoreless tie. 
 
Much like the first half, SHU came out hot, having a handful of opportunities to usher themselves in front. Just over 12 minutes into the second half, sophomore Lindsay McShea provided the finishing touches on an afternoon for celebration, sending in a piping right-footed shot that snuck inside the near post and past Burns to put the home side ahead, 1-0. 
 
Looking to put the finishing touches on the afternoon's festivities, the Pios handed Siena all they could handle in the waning moments of the match with Thievon stopping three more shots during her 90-minute appearance as the Pios rode out a 1-0 win to earn their first victory at Park Ave Field of the season and push themselves into position to grab a MAAC playoff berth. 
 
Top Performers:

• Lindsay McShea: 1 goal, 2 shots
• Morgan Bovardi: 1 assist
• Kyran Thievon: 4 saves, 1 shutout

 
Of Note: 

• McShea's tally is the third goal of her career and first of the season after grabbing two goals in her first year campaign. The goal is also her first tally since scoring in SHU's 7-0 drumming of Delaware State (9/17/24). 
• Bovardi's assist was the first of the season for the forward and sixth of her career. The point is also her first since scoring in the match against Yale in mid-September. 
• Thievon's four-save shutout is her third-consecutive shutout, setting a career-long shutout streak of three games. The Pioneeer sophomore has not allowed a goal in 287:43, spread across five appearances. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in action for two games this week, hosting the Fairfield Stags for Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Wednesday, October 16 before hitting the road to take on Canisius on Saturday, October 19. Kickoff for Wednesday's game is slated for 7 p.m. while Saturday's contest is scheduled for Noon. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.