FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's hockey team is back in action this week, taking on the #9/7 Quinnipiac Bobcats for the second time in four days on Tuesday, December 3. Puck drop from M&T Bank Arena is scheduled for 11 a.m. Livestream and live statistics links are available at sacredheartpioneers.com. 
 
ORIGINAL SIX
SHU enters the week with the best penalty killing unit in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA), limiting opponents to a 15.6% conversion rate on the power play. The Pios have allowed only two power-play goals in the last 11 games. 
 
The Pios enter the week with one of the best defensive schemes in the nation, earning a combined team goals-against average (1.807) and scoring defense (1.81) which ranks 11^th nationally and second in the NEWHA. 
 
Senior forward Kate Helgeson enters the week on a career-long, three-game goal streak after tallying two of SHU's three goals during the 2024 Nutmeg Classic. Her five goals rank second on the team as she also sits in a tie with Ella Holm for second on the team in points (9). 
 
In the last meeting against the Bobcats, the Pios grabbed a season-high 27 blocks with Savannah Popick leading the team with a career-high eight blocks during the game. 
 
The Pioneers currently boast the best scoring offense in the NEWHA entering the week, averaging 2.69 goals per game. SHU is also undefeated (6-0-0) when scoring four or more goals in a game. 
 
SHU is currently on a seven-game win streak in conference action after having its seven-game win streak snapped during the 2024 Nutmeg Classic. 
 
Tuesday's game will be featured in the U.S. and across the border in Canada. U.S. customers can watch the action on ESPN+ while those in Canada can view the game on TSN+. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers faced tough non-conference opposition during the weekend as SHU hosted the 2024 Nutmeg Classic for the first time in the program's history. The Pios held their own in an 8-1 loss to #9/7 Quinnipiac in the semifinals before playing in a close contest to #14 UConn, falling 4-2. 
 
In the game against the Bobcats, the opposition grabbed a 4-0 lead through one period of play before tacking on two more in the second period before Kate Helgeson snapped the scoring spree. Helgeson's fourth of the season put the Pios on the board after the forward was able to follow up a Sami Bowlby shot and deposit the puck into an empty net. SHU continued to perform through the remainder of the game as Lauren Larson picked up a career-high 41 saves in the loss. 
 
On Saturday, the Pios started the scoring in the first intermission with Helgeson grabbing her second goal of the weekend, finishing off a beautiful bit of passing from Grayson Limke and S. Bowlby to put the Pios ahead, 1-0. However, the Huskies tallied four-straight – including three in the second period – to take a 4-1 lead nearing the end of the second period. With under two minutes to play, Alyssa Antonakis tipped home a feed out in front from Peyton Bennetts to put SHU within striking distance. Though the Pios threatened, the comeback bid fell short as SHU fell, 4-2. 
 
ON #9/7 QUINNIPIAC
No. 9/7 Quinnipiac (12-4-3, 4-2-2 ECAC) heads into Tuesday's contest having grabbed the runner-up honor at the 2024 Nutmeg Classic, hosted by SHU just a few days ago. Quinnipiac, who took down the Pios 8-1 on Friday, went into a shootout against RV Yale in the Championship game, eventually falling to the Bulldogs, 1-1 (1-0 SOL) to claim second-place. 
 
Kahlen Lamarche and Kendall Cooper lead the Bobcats in points (16) after having decent outings last weekend. Lamarche claimed a hattrick in the opening game of the tournament to claim aa spot on the All-Tournament Team. Cooper, who tallied the game-tying goal in the Championship game, grabbed her sixth of the season and has tallied points in six of the last seven games. Maya Labad still holds the team-lead in goals with eight on the campaign while Cooper leads the team in assists with 10. 
 
In goal, Felicia Frank and Kaley Doyle have split time in goal with Doyle getting both starts in the Nutmeg Classic. The latter currently holds a 9-3-2 record this season and has grabbed five shutouts. Doyle has a 1.13 goals-against average coupled with a .951 save percentage. Frank has been solid in goal as well, holding a 3-1-1 record with three shutouts on the season. 
 
Cassandra Turner leads the Bobcats in her 10^th season with the program, earning a 202-103-30 record heading into Tuesday's contest. Tuesday's meeting marks the ninth meeting between the two squads including the seventh time the teams will meet in Hamden.