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TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP WE GO
After taking down the sixth-seeded Seahawks of Wagner College in the Northeast Conference (NEC) semifinal by a dramatic fashion Wednesday, the top-seeded Sacred Heart University women's lacrosse team is heading back to the NEC Championship for the second straight year.
 
The Pioneers will host the second-seeded Sharks of LIU on Saturday, May 4^th at 1:00 PM on Campus Field.
 
SEMIFINAL RECAP
Final Score: SHU 11 | Wagner 10
Highlights: 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 out her defender and found the back of the net for the game-winning goal with six seconds left. 
 
Wednesday's victory was the Pioneers fourth straight win against the Seahawks and extended their all-time series record to 15-11. 
 
NEC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

SUNDAY  4.28.24  1ST ROUND @ HIGHER SEEDS

QF

#3 Le Moyne

11

#6 Wagner

13

FINAL

BOX | RECAP

QF

#4 Stonehill

19

#5 Saint Francis U

14

FINAL

BOX | RECAP

THURSDAY  5.2.23  SEMIFINALS @TOP SEEDTEAMS RESEEDED AFTER 1ST RD
SF		#1 Sacred Heart	11		#6 Wagner	10	FINAL	BOX | RECAP
SF		#2 LIU	14		#4 Stonehill	7	FINAL	BOX | RECAP
SATURDAY  5.4.23  CHAMPIONSHIP    @TOP SEED
CH		#1 Sacred Heart			#2 LIU		1 PM	FRONT ROW | ESPN+ | LIVE STATS

2023-24 RECAP

• The Pioneers opened the spring campaign with three straight non-conference losses against UMass Lowell, Bryant, and Brown before earning their first win of the season at home against Quinnipiac on Feb. 28.
• A week later, SHU opened NEC play and suffered a tough 7-6 overtime loss to league newcomer Le Moyne. 
• The following Wednesday, the SHU bounced back with a thrilling 7-6 win over the Sharks of LIU. 
• Despite a 15-5 non-conference setback to #25 Fairfield on Mar. 16, the Pioneers then went on a hot streak, winning eight straight games.
• The Pioneers closed 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 the win against the CCSU in the regular season finale, the Pios earned the top seed and home-field advantage in the tournament for the second time in as many years.

YEAR-END ACCOLADES

• Maci Black was named Defensive Player of the Year, while Lisa Martin was named Goalkeeper of the Year. 
• Black's NEC Defensive Player of the Year crowning is historic for the Pioneers. In the award's 19-year history, she is the first player in Sacred Heart annals to wear the prestigious title. 
• For the second time in the award's history, a Sacred Heart player was named the NEC Goalkeeper of the Year with Martin's selection.
• Black and Martin earned a spot on the All-NEC first team and major award selections. Emma Kittredge, Kelly Nolan, and Madelyn Breitbeil also join the pair on the first team. 
• Breitbeil also was named to the All-NEC rookie team, along with her first-team nod. 
• Maggie Araneo and Ellie Holt rounded out the accolades by being named to the All-NEC second team. 

POSTSEASON NOTES

• This will be Sacred Heart's 14th postseason appearance in the NEC Tournament. 
• Sacred Heart has earned the No. 1 seed in back-to-back seasons. 
• Under head coach Laura Korutz, the Pioneers have won four NEC women's lacrosse championships: 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2023. 

ALL-TIME VS. LIU

• Sacred Heart leads the all-time series against LIU, 17-5. 
• The last two meetings against the Sharks ended with a final score of 7-6.
• SHU has won two of the last six meetings against the Sharks. 

LAST TIME OUT VS. SHARKS
Final Score (3/13/24): SHU 7 | LIU 6
Highlights: After earning its first conference loss of the season, Sacred Heart bounced back with a thrilling 7-6 home victory against LIU. Maggie Araneo recorded a team-high four points behind two goals and two assists. 
 
Sacred Heart headed into the second period trailing the visitors by one, 2-1, but the following 15 minutes of play saw SHU explode offensively. Three different Pioneers found the back of the net against the Sharks' keeper, doubling their lead, 4-2. 
 
Kittredge increased the Pioneers' lead to three, 5-2, after she kicked off the third quarter with her second goal of the game. Shortly after, momentum shifted in favor of the Sharks, who went on to score three straight goals to even the score at five-all with 13:09 left on the clock. 
 
The Pioneers closed out regulation with a 2-1 scoring run to seal the conference victory at Campus Field. 
 
SCOUTING SACRED HEART

• The Pios' success has come on defense, as they led the league in allowing 132 goals this season, just 59 in the conference. 
• SHU also owns the second-best margin of victory in NEC games this season at 6.3. 
• Black and Martin served as the ringleaders of one of the nation's top defensive units. The Pioneers boasted a 5.86 goals-against average during the 10-game league slate. 
• All-NEC First Teamers Emma Kittredge and Kelly Nolan command the offense with 47 and 32 points, respectively. 
• Kittredge leads the team in scoring, while Nolan is third.

SACRED HEART – TEAM STATS
Goals Per Game: 10.81 (4th in NEC)
Assists Per Game: 3.56 (8th in NEC)
Points Per Game: 14.38 (5th in NEC)
Shots Per Game: 28.94 (3rd in NEC)
Goals-Against Average: 8.84 (1st in NEC)
Save Percentage: .484 (1st in NEC)
 
SCOUTING LIU

• LIU earned a share of the NEC regular-season crown for the first time ever after they reeled in a program-record nine victories.
• McNamara-Cafiero and her coaching staff brings LIU back to the NEC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season in impressive fashion.
• Since falling to fellow co-champ Sacred Heart back in March, the Sharks have been on a roll with eight-straight wins and an average margin of victory of 7.9 scores during that stretch. 
• Midfielder Julia Trainor racked up multiple scores in nine games and closed out the regular season with 31 goals and 20 dimes for 51 points. 
• Trainer also ranked first on the squad in caused turnovers (25) and ground balls (21), while totaling the second-most draw controls (71).
• LIU's top goal-getter, Olivia Fantigrossi, recorded two six-goal games in league play, and 27 of her team-best 37 goals were netted against conference competitors.

LIU – TEAM STATS
Goals Per Game: 10.82 (3^rd in NEC)
Assists Per Game: 4.47 (5^th in NEC)
Points Per Game: 15.29 (3d in NEC)
Shots Per Game: 31.59 (1^st in NEC)
Goals-Against Average: 9.03 (2^nd in NEC)
Save Percentage: .429 (7^th in NEC)