FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Following a short stint at home, the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team hits the road this week, concluding non-conference play with a showdown up the Merritt Parkway against the Yale Bulldogs before getting right into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play against the Manhattan Jaspers. Kickoff against the Bulldogs from Reese Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. Wednesday night while Saturday's matinee at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, N.Y. is scheduled for noon. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Matchweek four was not too kind to the Pioneers as the Red & White concluded the week 0-2 but not without a fight. In the match against Vermont, the Pios battled through early adversity after the Catamounts were gifted a penalty kick inside the first five minutes that was eventually put away to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Later in the first half, the visitors doubled the lead after route one play led to a one-on-one chance inside the final third that the Catamounts slotted past starting goalkeeper Casey Mulligan. Mulligan was called upon to make four saves in the first half as the Red & White were down by two after 45 minutes. 
 
Looking for a spark, the Pios eventually found it within the first two minutes of the second half as Emily Hood scored her first collegiate goal, finishing off a loose ball in the box that ricocheted off a Vermont defender to put the Red & White within striking distance. Though the Pios continued to threaten, UVM was able to withstand the SHU pressure, riding out 2-1 victors on Wednesday night. 
 
On Saturday, the Pios looked to grab their first overall and conference wins of the season, hosting the Marist Red Foxes under the Park Ave Field lights. However, the Red Foxes played spoiler to the Pios on Homecoming Weekend, grabbing a 2-0 win courtesy of two first half goals. 
 
Against the run of play, Marist earned their first goal off a scramble in the SHU penalty area that the Pios could not deal with, facing a deficit within the first 20 minutes. Later in the first half, Marist doubled the lead off a deflection in the SHU third that led to a Red Fox break. The visitors were able to send a looping ball over the SHU keeper to extend the lead to two before the halftime break. Though the Pios were able to get chances in the second half, Marist shut the door on an attempted comeback to grab the three points with the 2-0 win. 
 
ON YALE
Yale heads into Wednesday's contest having snapped a two-game skid with a 1-0 road victory over Seton Hall on Sunday thanks to Phebe Ryan's first half goal. The Bulldogs have split matches against regional opponents in Stony Brook and Fordham, picking up a one-goal victory over the Seawolves before dropping a 3-2 contest to the Rams. All but one of Yale's matches this season have been decided by one goal, while all the Bulldogs' wins have come in shutout fashion. 
 
The Bulldogs are led by senior Marz Akins who currently holds the team lead in goals with two on the season. Senior Elllie Rappole sits tied with Akins in points with four on the season while Meredith Phillips holds the team lead in assists with three. Yale currently has eight different goal scorers on the season with 11 players having recorded a point through seven matches in 2024. 
 
Kyla Holmes and Anna Shamgochian have split time between the sticks so far this season for the Bulldogs with Holmes having earned the 1-0 shutout win on Sunday. Holmes currently boasts a 3-1 record with a 0.44 goals against average and .900 save percentage in five starts this season. 
 
Sarah Martinez leads the Bulldogs in her fifth season, amassing a 19-28-8 record during her time at the Ivy League powerhouse. Though Yale boasts the lead in the all-time series, last season's meeting between the two teams ended in a tie after both sides combined to score four goals in eight minutes in the second half. 
 
ON MANHATTAN
Manhattan strolls into Saturday's match having had their four-game win streak snapped on the road to MAAC opponent Canisius by virtue of a 1-0 scoreline last Saturday. During their win streak over Northeast Conference (NEC) opposition, the Jaspers outscored their opponents 10-0, including a 5-0 bludgeoning of Delaware State in early September. 
 
Redshirt senior Sami Derrico leads the Jaspers with four goals and nine points on the season, courtesy of two braces in two of her last four matches. Nicolette Caneda is second on the team with five points on the year while Julia Nicholas leads Manhattan in assists with two on the season. Nine different Jaspers have recorded a point this season with six players having scored a goal in the early going of the season. 
 
In goal, Molly Brunk leads the Jaspers in her sophomore season, grabbing a 4-3 record this season as the lone goalkeeper to appear in a match for Manhattan in 2024 so far. Brunk currently holds a .800 save percentage and a 0.86 goals against average while making 24 saves in seven matches this season. 
 
Along the touchline, Brendan Lawler leads the Jaspers in his 15^th season with the team, earning an 82-125-309 record. SHU currently holds the all-time series lead including taking last season's meeting at Gaelic Park, 2-0 as all but two of the five all-time meetings have been decided by one goal.