TROY, N.Y. — Jillian Petruno's 38 save performance was the lone highlight for the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team as the Pioneers fell in the series finale to the RPI Engineers, 4-0, on Saturday evening. With the loss, the Pios conclude their first bit of nonconference action with a split and will head to conference play next week. 
 
Having dusted off the cobwebs in the first game of the season, both teams looked to push toward the opening goal in the first period after the previous day's contest saw the lone three goals scored in the final 16:13 of game action. Having given up the first goal in Friday's opener, RPI found themselves on the front foot in Saturday's affair, scporing the game-opening goal just over five minutes into the contest as a loose puck in front was put home past the scrum of bodies in the crease by Georgia Bailey to put the home side up, 1-0. 
 
The Pios had ample opportunity to get back in the game later on in the first period as two penalties from RPI in quick succession saw the Red & White with the personnel-advantage in the remaining five minutes of the period. Though SHU had its opportunities, RPI's Reese Keating was equal to every SHU chance, stopping all five Pio shots in the frame to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
With just :16 left on the power play to start the period, the Pios sought to take advantage of the fresh coat of ice to generate some opportunities. However, RPI stood its ground in the first part of the period as the Pios went begging on the power play through their first two opportunities of the evening.
 
Despite having been outshot through the first portion of the middle stanza, the Pios held their own in the defensive end and starting goaltender Jillian Petruno & Co. limited the Engineers chances to keep the deficit at one. 
 
However, having been on the front foot a majority of the frame since starting it on the penalty kill, RPI doubled the lead on a Morgann Skoda tally as the forward found herself with room in the low slot, firing a shot far-side on Petruno and into the corner to give RPI a 2-0 lead with under nine minutes to go in the frame. 
 
SHU continued to battle its way into the offensive zone but the stingy defense of RPI kept the Pios at bay through the first 40 minutes, limiting SHU to just 7 shots on frame through 40 minutes of play as the Engineers skated into the locker room ahead by two after two periods of play. 
 
The Pios found themselves again on the power play early in the third period, starting the period with 1:13 of power play time with an opportunity to cut the deficit in half. SHU threatened but was unable to generate high-quality chances, mustering just one shot on the advantage as the scoreline remained level with 18 minutes left in regulation. 
 
Looking for a chance back in the game, SHU fell victim to the penalty bug, taking their fourth penalty of the game as Lake Bethard was sent to the box for slashing. 84 seconds later, the Pios picked the puck out of the net as RPI's Skoda grabbed her second of the game, sending a loose puck past Petruno on the backhand after an initial bid from the blueline careened off a body in front and onto her tape to give RPI a 3-0 lead with under five to go. 
 
With time becoming a factor, SHU once again found themselves on the penalty kill with RPI putting the finishing touches on the series split, sending home a shot in the slot with three seconds left in regulation to take a 4-0 win as the final horn sounded on the opening weekend of action for the Pioneers. 
 
Top Performers:

• Jillian Petruno: 38 saves
• Anastasia Sloan: 2 shots, 1 block
• Olivia LaRoche: 2 shots, 2 blocks
• Savannah Popick: 4 blocks
• Sydney Antonakis: 2 shots, 2 blocks

 
Of Note:

• Four Pioneers played in their first collegiate games as Shae Carroll, Addie Bowlby, Norah Morris and Lake Bethard all suited up for Saturday's game. 
• Petruno's 38 saves are the most she has made in a game this season as she totaled 71 saves through the first weekend of action in the split against RPI. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers embark on the 2024-25 conference portion of the schedule, taking on Saint Anselm College in New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) play on October 11-12. Puck drop for Friday's action is scheduled for 7 p.m. while Saturday's game is slated for 2 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.