MILFORD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's swimming & diving team dominated a road Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tri-meet on Saturday, defeating both Saint Peter's and Merrimack convincingly in Jersey City, N.J. The Pios tallied an 182-79 win over the Peacocks and a 198-63 triumph over the Warriors. 

With two victories today, the Pioneers improve to 4-2 in MAAC competition and 7-4 overall. With just two dual-meets left on the schedule, Head Coach John Spadafina clinched the sixth winning season in his 11 years at the helm of the program. 

On the day, Sacred Heart racked up 10 victories, topping both relays and eight individual events. 

The Pioneers started the meet with a close battle in the 200 medley relay, defeating Saint Peter's by a margin of 1.21 seconds. The team of Kristen Baker, Rosemery Nieto, Melanie Sanchez and Emma Haas combined for a time of 1:51.04 to top the Peacocks. 

SHU followed up the meet-opening win with good showings in the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle. Maeve English was outstanding in the 1,000, placing second with a time of 11:26.49. The Pios then claimed the second, third and fourth spots in the 200. Julia Fanning (2:01.55) took second, while Brooke Labarge (2:01.61) and Meghan Hammarlund (2:01.69) placed third and fourth, respectively. 

The Pioneers returned to the winner's circle in the 100 back as Sophia Velleco's time of 59.43 was the best of the four SHU swimmers that placed in the top five of the event. Nieto did something similar in the 100 breast, topping three other Pios in the top six with a winning time of 1:08.74. 

After Emma Chambers took second in the 200 fly, SHU went on to win the next five events. Haas started the run by taking first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.41. English (56.38) was next to win in the 100 freestyle, as she led an exciting 1-2 with Fanning (56.60) as the pair finished under a second apart.

Velleco continued the run with a victory in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:08.53, over two seconds clear of the field. Daniella Palamaro then topped the 200 breaststroke, finishing in 2:31.24. Sanchez marked the final win of the streak in the 500 freestyle, pacing the three Pioneers in the top four with a time of 5:24.49. 

Haas (1:00.99) took second in the 100 fly before Nieto (2:15.08), Palamaro (2:15.49) and Fanning (2:16.07) swept the top three of the 200 IM for SHU in the final two individual events of the day. 

Velleco, Emma Davis, Sanchez and Haas capped the Pioneers' dominant afternoon with a victory in the 400-freestyle relay. The quartet posted a time of 3:40.23. 
 
Up Next:
The Pioneers will have off until Friday, Dec. 6, for the first day of the three-day Gompei Invitational, hosted by WPI in Worcester, Mass.