FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team returns to the friendly confines of Martire Family Arena this weekend, playing host to Franklin Pierce on November 22-23. Puck drop for both games is slated for 2 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pios ran riot during the weekend series against Saint Michael's, outscoring the Purple Knights by a combined 10-1 scoreline to take a full complement of six points in the NEWHA standings. 
 
In game one, the Pios skated to a scoreless draw through one period of action before opening the floodgates in the final 40 minutes. Ella Holm got the scoring started just four minutes into the frame before Campbell Heger lit the lamp just over two minutes later to put SHU ahead 2-0. Kate Helgeson added an insurance tally as the Pios grabbed a 3-0 lead into the final period. Peyton Bennetts, Sami Bowlby and Bria Holm connected inside the final 20 as SHU clamped down on a 6-0 win. 
 
In the series finale, Ella Holm grabbed her second of the weekend as the lone scorer in the first period before her sister, Bria, grabbed the lone second period goal to give SHU a 2-0 lead into the final stanza. Though SMC found the back of the net early in the third to cut into the SHU lead, Alyssa Antonakis gave the Pios back their two-goal lead before Chaput netted a power-play goal late in regulation to secure a series sweep for the Pioneers. 
 
ON FRANKLIN PIERCE
Franklin Pierce (6-6-0, 6-4-0 NEWHA) head into the weekend having been swept by LIU last weekend for the first time in NEWHA action. In game one, a second period goal by LIU was the lone scoring on the evening as the Sharks grabbed a 1-0 win. In the series finale, four unanswered goals by LIU pushed what was a back-and-forth affair out of reach as FPU fell, 6-3. 
 
Mikayla Kelley and Maggie Korneta lead the Ravens in points with 12 each on the season with both registering an assist in the series finale against LIU. Korneta currently holds the team lead on assists (9) while Kelley sits tied for the team lead in goal with Brynn Levinson as both have potted six on the young season. 
 
In goal, Jill Hertl has grabbed 10 starts this season, boasting a 2.59 goals-against average coupled with a .926 save percentage. Senior goaltender Gwen Bowler has grabbed two appearances in net and just one start this season with an 0-2-0 record. 
 
Head coach David Stockdale returns for his 13^th season as the bench boss at FPU, grabbing a 203-118-14 record during his tenure. SHU grabbed three wins last season during the four-game regular season series against FPU before the Ravens grabbed both wins in the NEWHA Quarterfinals as the No. 5 seed. The all-time series between the two teams is tied 21-21-5 heading into the weekend.