FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Cassie Nevers' ninth goal of the season put the Pioneers in striking distance but could not promote the comeback as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team fell to the LIU Sharks, 3-1, on Tuesday night.
Both teams began a contested first period with neither side gaining the clear advantage through the first five minutes of the fame. However, the Pios earned the first power play opportunity of the night as LIU's Milana Butera was sent to the box for tripping. On the power play, the Red & White had ample opportunities to cash in but could not find the back of the net as the Sharks' Clara Kammholz turned aside three SHU bids to keep the game tied halfway through the frame.
The Pios continued to pressure Kammholz through the middle part of the period earning their best chance since the power play on the rush but could not convert as
Cassie Nevers and
Sophie Lupone could not connect on the two-on-one chance to put the Pios on the board as the game remained scoreless.
Late in the opening stanza, the Sharks were able to find the breakthrough as Grace Babington capitalized on the power-play to open the scoring. Following a hooking call in SHU's defensive zone, the Sharks worked the puck through the corner and back out into the slot as Babington finished off the tic-tac-toe play in front with 19 seconds left in the minor to take a 1-0 lead that they saw through to the first intermission.
LIU came out blazing in the second period, stunning the Pioneers 21 seconds into the frame by doubling the lead off Sarah Rourke's tap in from the low slot. Following a shot pass off the end board, Rourke found a loose puck just outside Petruno's crease and a wrist shot past the SHU netminder to put the Sharks in front, 2-0.
However, the Pios stormed back just 90 seconds later with Nevers extending her point-streak to a career-long five games, putting away a rebound in front to cut the deficit in half. Nevers, alone in the slot, sent a tip-pass just wide of the net before corralling the rebound and sending a wrister past Kammholz to put SHU on the board.
The goal scoring continued in the early going of the second period, but not without controversy, as LIU extended the lead back to two goals off a net-front scramble. Following a Petruno save off a shot from the point, several skaters collapsed inside the SHU crease as the puck remained loose. With no whistle blown, the puck creeped out from the mass of bodies in front, finding LIU's Lisa Schrofl who elevated the puck past Petruno and into the back of the net. SHU challenged the calamitous tally, but after a long review, the play stood as called as LIU regained its two-goal lead.
With the momentum in favor of the visitors, SHU fought back in the remaining 15 minutes of the period, sending a total of eight shots toward Kammholz with the first year netminder holding her own. On the other end, Petruno stopped 12 shots in the frame, including three late in the period as the Sharks went into the third period up, 3-1.
Continuing where they left off in the second period, LIU continued to pressure the Pioneers in the offensive end. However, Petruno continued to play well, stopping nine shot through 10 minutes of action to keep SHU in the game. The Pios continued to battle but LIU held strong in the remaining 10 minutes of the frame as the Pioneers fell, 3-1.
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Up Next:
The Pioneers return to the ice this weekend as part of a home-and-home with Assumption on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10. Puck drop from Martire Family Arena on Friday is slated for 7 p.m. while Saturday's puck drop at Worcester Ice Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
