FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the second straight year, the Sacred Heart University women's lacrosse team clinched the Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season championship on Wednesday afternoon with a convincing 13-5 victory over Central Connecticut State University at Campus Field.
The Pioneers close out the regular season with a conference record of 9-1 to earn a share of the NEC regular season title, along with the Sharks of LIU, who also finished with a 9-1 league record.
With today's win against the Blue Devils, the Pios have also earned the top seed and home-field advantage in the upcoming NEC Tournament for the second time in as many years.
Records:
SHU (10-5, 9-1 NEC)
CCSU (2-13, 2-8 NEC)
Top Performers:
Kelly Nolan – 5 points (3G, 2A)
Emma Kittredge – 2 points (2G)
Maci Black – 1 goal, 3 caused turnovers
Shae Insinga – 1 goal, 9 draw controls
Goalkeepers:
SHU – Lisa Martin (W): 2 goals-against | 5 saves
SHU – Julina Henry: 1 goal-against | 1 save
CCSU – Kya Risher (L): 15 goals-against | 19 saves
Of Note:
Jamie Tanner opened the scoring two and a half minutes into regulation, netting her seventh goal of the season. At 10:56, a goal from Emma Kittredge doubled the Pioneers' lead before Shea Insinga increased the hosts' two-goal advantage to three, 3-0, following her 33rd career goal.
The Pioneers recorded a big second period as the hosts scored six goals behind five different scorers, including a pair from Kelly Nolan less than a minute apart, to take a commanding 9-2 lead at the half.
Solid defensive work from the Pioneers held the Blue Devils scoreless in the third, while the hosts tallied three goals from Nolan, Taylor Farace, and Maci Black to make it a 10-goal lead, 12-2, heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
The Pioneers added an additional three goals in the fourth and final period to put the game out of reach for the Blue Devils and earn their eighth straight win.
Junior Lisa Martin earned the win between the pipes for the red-and-white and tallied five saves on the afternoon. Juliana Henry also appeared in the net for the Pioneers and finished with one save.
Up Next:
The top-seeded Pioneers will be back at Campus Field on Thursday, May 2nd, for an NEC Tournament Semifinal game. The opponent and start time have yet to be determined. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.
