NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Grace O'Hara's record-setting assist on
Kelly Medeiros' first goal of the season gave the Pioneers reasons to celebrate early, but a duo of goals from the hosts spoiled the evening for the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team is it fell on the road to Merrimack College on Wednesday night, 2-1.
The Pios started the match with vigor, setting the tone early with a handful of chances that put the Merrimack defense under siege. Nearly five minutes into the match, SHU struck for the game-opening goal with
Kelly Medeiros netting her first goal of the season – and first goal in over a year – to give SHU the 1-0 lead early.
On the goal,
Grace O'Hara found space along the right flank, beating her defender with pass before crossing in a low pass toward the edge of the penalty area. With
Shea Kelleher overstepping the ball on purpose, allowing it to run to Medeiros, the latter sent a curling, right-footed shot past MC's Lily Morgan to give the Red & White a 1-0 lead inside the first five minutes while giving O'Hara her program-record 16
th career assist, breaking an over decade's long record.
With the squads settling into the match after the opening goal, it was chances for both sides for the next 40 minutes. In the 23
rd minute, the Warriors had an opportunity to level the score on a chance from a corner kick, however, sophomore
Lyndsey Laperle was in the right place at the right time to clear a chance off the endline. Just two minutes later,
Morgan Bovardi nearly doubled the Pioneer lead, sending a low shot toward Morgan after pirouetting around a defender in the half-space that was eventually saved.
Inside the half-hour mark, Merrimack found its equalizing goal off a bang-bang play inside the SHU penalty area. Having had an Isabella Keogh shot glance off the bar in the 27
th minute, Merrimack came back down the field with Ella Cormier sending a ball inside the box that Jillian Golden slotted past SHU's
Kyran Thievon to level the scoreline 28 minutes into the match.
With both teams having had their defenses pierced, a war of attrition ensued on the pitch as both teams could not break through the final line until the end of the frame. With less than five minutes to go, the Warriors found an elusive chance to take the lead, capitalizing on a loose ball near the penalty area that Lauren Boughner sent into the corner to give the hosts a 2-1 lead that they saw into the halftime break.
Looking to change the tied in the second half, the Pios had a handful of chances to draw level. Having weathered a storm of pressure from the Warriors in the first 15 minutes of the half,
Emily Hood sent a driving shot that clanked off the elbow of the woodwork and off of Morgan as the Pios nearly found the game-tying goal.
Nearing the end of the match, the Pios continued pestering the Warriors in the final third, eventually earning a free-kick opportunity 25 yards from goal. Looking to replicate the free.-kick magic that
Miriam Shomstein had a week prior,
Lindsay McShea sent a driving shot around the wall that showed promise but dragged wide as the Pios remained a goal down with less than seven minutes to go.
Nearing the death, SHU funneled chance after chance toward the Warrior net. However, Morgan and her defenses continued to hold strong as the Pios could not find the elusive tying goal, falling to Merrimack, 2-1.
Top Performers:
Kelly Medeiros: 1 goal, 2 shots on goal
Grace O'Hara: 1 assist, 1 shot on goal
Kyran Thievon: 6 saves
Of Note:
- Kelly Medeiros' goal is her first goal of the season and first goal since scoring against Manhattan on September 7, 2023.
- With the lone assist on Medeiros' goal, O'Hara claimed her 16th career assist, breaking an 11-year record set by Alyssa Brandofino (2010-13) who recorded 15 in her career.
- O'Hara's assist is also her fifth of the season which sets a new, single-season high in that scoring category.
- SHU's one-goal loss in Wednesday's match is the 11th time this season that the Pios have been involved in a game that was decided by one goal or less. SHU has a record of 3-5-3 in those games.
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in action this weekend, hosting the Niagara Purple Eagles on Saturday, October 26 in a match with major postseason implications. Kickoff from Park Ave field is slated for 4 p.m. More information can be found at sacedheartpioneers.com.
