FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Down to its third goalie, the Sacred Heart University women's hockey team played a full 200-foot game en route to its sixth-consecutive victory, dispatching Franklin Pierce, 3-1, on Friday afternoon. The win continues SHU's best start to a season since the 2017-18 season. 
 
With a chance to extend its lead atop the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) standings, the Pioneers needed to dig deep on the defensive end as SHU started its third goalie of the season Lauren Larson making her first collegiate start. Through the early going, it was the defensive prowess of the Pios that kept things at a stalemate as Larson grabbed five saves through the first 10 minutes of action. Keeping pace with Larson, the Pio defense amassed a plethora of blocked shots to frustrate the Ravens offensively halfway through the frame. 
 
Just past the media timeout, the Pioneers nearly opened the scoring on aflurry of chances out in front of the FPU net as Sami Bowlby nearly capitalized on two shots in front, but could not sneak one through. Having been outshot through the first part of the frame, The Pios closed the shot gap into the intermission, trailing 8-7, but holding a massive 9-3 advantage in blocked shots. 
 
SHU took advantage in the second period, grabbing a power play early on in the frame that generated some much-needed momentum. Though the Pios failed to connect on the advantage, the Red & White found the first goal of the afternoon on a delayed call with under seven to go in the second. 
 
Having worked the puck along the end boards, Bria Holm found a cycling Sydney Antonakis along the hash marks to create an opportunity in front. Antonakis then slotted a pass that a streaking Savannah Popick smashed out of mid-air and past FPU's Gwen Bowler to give SHU a 1-0 lead. Continuing to dominate the pace of play, the Pios held tightly defensively, limiting FPU to seven shots on goal  in the period while opening up a 23-15 shot advantage overall with Larson pitching a shutout through two periods. 
 
In an entertaining third period, the Pios generated offense quickly, pushing the lead to two on a broken play in the FPU zone. Having utilized an aggressive forecheck throughout the game, SHU grabbed possession in the offensive zone with Peyton Bennetts finding Sydney Antonakis – who once again was all alone along the hash marks – with the forward working some space open toward the slot. Sydney then found her sister, Alyssa Antonakis, all alone behind her just outside the faceoff circle, allowing the forward to wire a wrist shot far side on Bowler to double the Pio lead six minutes into the frame.
 
In a back-and-forth finale to the period, the Pios found themselves in penalty trouble late in regulation with the extra attacker on for FPU. Needing a goal, it took the Ravens just 12 seconds on the power play to cut into the deficit with just over two minutes to go as the shutout bid for Larson was denied and SHU's penalty-killing streak was snapped at 20-consecutive kills. 

Having hemmed the Ravens in their own zone for the majority of the afternoon, the Pios kept things simple in the finale of regulation to keep FPU at bay. With the net empty and time winding down, Isabella Chaput grabbed her team-leading seventh goal of the season with an empty-net dagger with three seconds left to put the finishing touches on a series-opening victory. 
 
 
Of Note:

• With the victory, Lauren Larson picks up her first collegiate win in her first-ever start, becoming the first goalie to win her first collegiate start since Carly Greene and Molly Elmore did so a week a part from each other during the 2021-22 season. 
• Popick's goal is her second of the season and first since scoring the overtime game-winner in SHU's regular season opener against RPI. 
• Chaput's empty net tally is her third goal in the last four games as the Pioneer sophomore has now scored in consecutive games for the second time this season. 
• With an assist on Savannah Popick's goal, Bria Holm extends her point streak to a career-high four games. She has grabbed six points across that span. 
• With an assist in today's game, Peyton Bennetts is now on a career-long three game point streak. 
• Grabbing helpers on both goals, Sydney Antonakis has grabbed assists in the last two games after earning her team-leading fifth of the season in Friday's contest. 
• Boasting one of the top penalty kills in the nation, the Pioneers allowed their first power-play goal in nine games during Friday's tilt, snapping a streak of 20-consecutive penalty kills. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers look for their fourth NEWHA sweep of the season when they face the Ravens for game two on Saturday, November 23. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena is slated for 2 p.m.