HOME COOKIN'
After a stretch of eight of nine on the road to open the season, it is finally time for the Sacred Heart University field hockey team to spend some quality time at home. A pair of games at Johnson Field this weekend kicks off a span where the team will play five of six on its home turf. Friday's matchup features an important Northeast Conference matchup and an NEC semifinal rematch with Saint Francis, while Sunday is a non-conference tilt against Big East member Georgetown. Friday is Breast Cancer Awareness Day and the team's annual pink game, while the championship banner for the 2023 NEC title-winning team will be revealed before Sunday's game.

LAST WEEKEND
Sacred Heart split a pair of 2-1 contests on the road last weekend. In non-conference play at Holy Cross on Wednesday, SHU dominated the stats sheet and got a goal from Celia Benson, but suffered a 2-1 loss to the Crusaders. At Merrimack on Friday, the Pios were again dominant, and Hannah Fawle struck in the third quarter, but were taken all the way to a shootout by the Warriors. SHU prevailed in the shootout to improve to 2-0 in NEC play. Fawle, who also assisted on Benson's Wednesday goal, was named an NEC Prime Performer for her work last week.

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis is also out to a 2-0 start in NEC play and has won five of six heading into this weekend's eastern excursion to SHU and Drexel. Against NEC competition, the Red Flash blanked Mercyhurst, 4-0, in mid-September and doubled up Stonehill, 2-1, last Friday. Consu de Castro leads the way for the Saint Francis offense, with 14 points on six goals and two assists.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST SAINT FRANCIS
The longtime NEC foes have met annually since 2017, minus the 2020-21 pandemic season, but plus last season's postseason contest. SHU took both meetings last year and has won five of seven since 2017. Saint Francis has not scored a goal against the Pios in the last 144:04.

SCOUTING THE HOYAS
Georgetown split its opening weekend, but has been scuffling ever since. The Hoyas have dropped five of six and have a Friday contest at Quinnipiac on the docket before visiting SHU on Sunday. Georgetown has been outscored 11-1 in its first two Big East contests. Sophie Towne has been the team's top offensive threat, with eight points on three goals and two assists.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST GEORGETOWN
This two sides have met five times since 2017, facing each other every year except the 2020-21 pandemic season and last season. The Hoyas have won all five of those contests, most recently earning a 3-2 overtime victory at home on Sept. 2, 2022.

UP NEXT
SHU will be on the road next Friday, for an NEC title game rematch at Wagner, before returning home for a Sunday morning contest against Towson.