NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Shea Kelleher's 56^th minute strike provided the difference as the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team picked up its first win of the season, dispatching the Iona Gaels at Mazzella Field on Wednesday afternoon, 1-0.
 
It would be a disservice to say that the afternoon was the lone factor that heated up the match as both teams started with vigor to usher in the first goal. Though the Pios had some of their own chances, it was the hosts that provided the first major opportunity of the match inside the first eight minutes as a penalty kick was awarded to the Gaels due to an errant handball inside the SHU penalty area. With Iona's Marissa Graziano stepping up to take the spot kick, it was goalkeeper Kyran Thievon – who made her return to the starting 11 during the match – who stymied the Iona forward, guessing correctly to her left to parry the shot around the far post as SHU provided enough support to negate the second and third chance opportunities. 
 
Having their starting goalkeeper providing the early heroics, the Pios fought back into the match in the ensuing minutes as Shea Kelleher looked to etch her name on the scoresheet but had both of her chances saved by Iona's Kayla Kalbaugh in the first 30 minutes of play. 
 
Nearing the end of the half, both teams continued to threaten with the hosts having some of the best opportunities to find the opening goal. However, the SHU defensive line held firm, limiting the chances to the wings and displeasing the home fans with the "offside trap" as the two sides went into the break in a scoreless draw. 
 
Coming out of the break, it was quickfire opportunities for the hosts as the Gaels funnled four shots toward the SHU goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, the netting was too hard to hit in the early moments of the second half as all four chances went begging. 
 
After weathering the initial storm of pressure in the second half, the Pios found their golden opportunity in the 56^th minute as a bit of build-up play allowed Martyna Krzysztopik to find Kelleher streaking towards the outskirts of the Iona penalty area. Kelleher then gathered possession and wired a looping far post shot off the keeper's glove and into the netting to put SHU up, 1-0. 
 
The Pios, smelling blood in the water, continued threatening towards the Iona goal as Grace O'Hara, Morgan Bovardi, and Kelleher teamed up to funnel three more opportunities toward the goal. Though it was Bovardi's individual effort in the 74^th minute that nearly doubled the lead, it was Kalbaugh who ventured out near the edge of her penalty area to negate the Pioneer junior's chance and keep the Gaels within reach. 
 
With under 10 to go, the Pios clamped down defensively, failing to allow a shot for the hosts in the waning stages of the match. With under five to go in the frame, SHU hemmed the opposition in their defensive third claiming the last few spells of possession to kill off the notion of a draw, grabbing the full plethora of three points in Metro Atlantic Conference (MAAC) play via a 1-0 win. 
 
Top Performers:

• Shea Kelleher: 1 goal, 5 shots on goal
• Morgan Bovardi: 1 shot on goal
• Emily Hood: 1 shot on goal
• Kyran Thievon: 4 saves

Of Note:

• Kelleher's 56^th minute tally is her fourth goal of the season as she now leads the team in goals (4) and points (8).
• Krzysztopik's assist on Kelleher's goal is her first collegiate assist and point. Krzysztopik has appeared in 40 matches during her three-year career in the Red & White. 
• Thievon made her return to the starting lineup, grabbing the starting nod for the fifth time this season and first time since starting against Marist. 
• In the win, Thievon collected her first win of the season and second of her career. Her first collegiate win came in SHU's 2-0 win over Manhattan on September 7, 2023. 
• Connie Herrera made her return to the starting lineup, playing the full 90 minutes for the second time this season. 
• Sophomore Emily Hood played the full 90 minutes for the first time in her collegiate career in the win. 
•  First year Emily Pimentel made her collegiate debut in the win, grabbing 28 minutes off the bench in the second half. 

 
Up Next:
SHU continues matchweek seven with a road test on Saturday, October 5 against the Rider Broncs. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. from Ben Cohen Field in Lawrenceville, N.J. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.