BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team concludes the regular season with a perfect 9-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record after picking up a 13-12 road victory over Canisius in the regular season finale on Saturday. The Pioneers extended their win streak to nine, the longest win streak in program history.

After claiming the regular season title last weekend, SHU is the top seed heading into the MAAC postseason tournament. The Pios have earned a first-round bye and will open the postseason on Thursday, May 2, in the semifinals.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 11-4, 9-0 MAAC
Canisius: 5-10, 3-6 MAAC

Top Performers:
Jake Ward: 3 goals, 1 assist (4 points)
Morgan O'Reilly: 2 goals, 1 assist (3 points)
Johnny Morgan: 2 goals, 1 assist (3 points)
Carson Spooner: 2 goals
James Moran: 2 goals
Alex Pazienza: 6 saves
Luke Romanek: 11-21 face-off wins

Of Note:
With his first multi-point game of the season, Johnny Morgan scored twice in the first quarter, leading the Pioneers to a 3-1 advantage. Morgan got scoring started five minutes into the game, but Canisius scored just over a minute later to make it 1-1. James Moran scored his first of the day at 8:09, and Morgan tallied his second to hold the two-goal lead heading into the second quarter.

Tucker Spencer scored early in the second to give the Pioneers a three-goal lead 4-1. The Golden Griffins had a much better quarter than the first. The home team scored three straight goals to tie the game 4-4. Jake Ward scored his first of the day to put the Pios ahead by one, but Canisius scored once more to send the game into halftime with a 5-5 tie.

Moran and Ward scored two quick goals after the break to jump ahead 7-5. Canisius pulled within one at 7:49, but Carson Spooner put away his first goal of the day to give SHU the two-goal edge, 8-6 heading into the final frame.

The fourth was a battle, with Canisius at the heels of the Pios every step of the way. Morgan O'Reilly tallied his first goal of the day at 13:20 to put Sacred Heart ahead by three, 9-6. Canisius didn't waste any time, scoring back-to-back goals in six seconds to pull within one. Will Moulton put away his lone goal of the day to give the Pios a two-goal edge, but the Golden Griffins answered just two minutes later to once again pull within one.

Spooner and O'Reilly scored back-to-back goals for Sacred Heart to take a 12-9 lead with just over five minutes left to play. Canisius took advantage of a face-off win to pull within two at 5:08, but Ward had the answer for the Pioneers to extend the lead to three, 13-10. The Golden Griffins scored the final two goals of the game, but Sacred Heart held strong, including a huge save from Alex Pazienza in the final 10 seconds to maintain the 13-12 victory.

Pazienza made six saves in the victory, securing his program-leading 11th win of the season. 

Up Next:
SHU will play in a MAAC semifinal game on Thursday, May 2. Time and location are TBA.