FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's lacrosse team is heading to the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Game for the second straight year after defeating the sixth-seeded Seahawks of Wagner College in dramatic fashion in the first of two semifinal games at Campus Field on Thursday afternoon. 
 
A goal from Maggie Araneo at the 2:00 mark of the fourth quarter evened the game at 10-10 and ignited a spark within the Pioneers, which resulted in a Wagner turnover, caused by Ellie Holt, with 1:34 on the clock. 
 
Following a good clear attempt from the Pioneers, Emma Kittredge beat her defender and found the back of the net for the game-winning goal with six seconds left. 
 
Records:
SHU (11-5)
Wagner (6-11)
 
Top Performers:
Maggie Araneo – 6 points (4G, 2A)
Emma Kittredge – 3 points (2G, 1A)
Taylor Farace – 2 points (2G)
 
Goalkeepers:
SHU – Lisa Martin (W): 10 goals-against | 5 saves
WAG – Grace DeCarolis (L): 11 goals-against | 6 saves
 
Of Note:
Sacred Heart opened regulation with back-to-back goals from Kittredge and Jamie Tanner, giving the hosts the early two-goal advantage. Shortly after, Wagner found its offensive rhythm, scoring three straight goals, including two from Kelsey Scheidel, for the one-goal lead, 3-2, at the end of the first.

The Pioneers controlled the second period as the hosts outscored the Seahawks by a 5-2 margin for the 7-4 lead heading into the halftime break. Araneo and Farace led the Pioneers with two goals, while Kelly Nolan netted her first of the game.

The Pioneers came out of the break with the hot hand, scoring two straight goals from Maci Black and Araneo to push their lead to four, 9-5. With the period winding down, Wagner resumed offensive control of the game and scored two goals at 2:45 and 0:02 to trim the deficit to two, 9-7.

Wagner carried its offensive momentum into the fourth as two goals from Megan Greco and a goal from Kristina Pisano gave the visitors the 10-9 lead with 8:25 to go in the period. 

With less than 10 minutes to go in regulation, the Pioneers saw themselves trailing the Seahawks by one, 10-9, before a goal from Maggie Araneo evened the game with two minutes left. 

Martin made five saves to backstop the Pioneers in the win.
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart return to Campus Field on Saturday, May 4^th as the Pioneers take on the second-seed LIU Sharks in the NEC Championship game at 1:00 PM.