NEW HAVEN, Conn. — On a campus with rich history, the Sacred Heart University women's soccer team wrote some of its own on Wednesday night, ushering forward Grace O'Hara as the program's leading career point-scorer, courtesy of a second half assist as the Pioneers dropped a dogfight to Yale University, 2-1, at Reese Stadium. 
 
With last season's matchup in Fairfield having been a nail-biter through the first 45 minutes, Wednesday night's contest proved to be a similar storyline through much of the first half as both teams were deadlocked through the first 44 minutes. Though the hosts gathered the first chance of the evening, it was the Pioneers who pushed the hosts on the brink of conceding the opening goal, funneling a plethora of chances along the flanks that proved too be bothersome to the Bulldogs for a majority of the half. 
 
Halfway through the first half, the Pios countered an opening attack by mustering the Bulldogs into two saves including one off of a cross that forward Morgan Bovardi was almost able to push past Yale's Kya Holmes. However, the Bulldog goalkeeper was able to corral the loose chance, ushering in a handful of cheers from the SHU sideline as the Pios looked to break the deadlock.
 
Controlling the majority of play through the first half, the Pios gave up their one and only chance of the first half to the hosts off a spot kick as a through ball from the Bulldogs caused trouble along the SHU backline. Trying to succeed with a tackle on a streaking Yale forward, the referee's whistle proved unkind to the Red & White as the center referee pointed to the spot for a penalty kick that Yale's Ellie Rappole sent past SHU's Lauren Calabro with just 30 ticks left on the first half clock to put the hosts ahead 1-0 into the halftime break. 
 
Coming out of the break, the Pios looked to fight back into the match but found themselves on their heels, calling Calabro into action early and often as the sophomore goalkeeper was able to turn aside the first few opportunities that came before her including a point-blank save on Yale's Rappole that kept the Pios within striking distance. 
 
With the Pios having weathered the storm from the hosts, it was time for history to write itself. In the 58^thminute, the Pios grabbed a hold of possession within their own third and quickly sprung a counterattack that caught Yale off guard. Finding space along the right side, Grace O'Hara was able to beat her defender and loft in a lovely cross that found the head off a wide-open Bovardi who promptly smashed it into the back of the net to not only put the Pios level, but give her compatriot and fellow striker sole possession of the top point-scorer in the program's history. 

The assist that broke Paula Pineda's points record. Congrats Grace! Well earned and well deserved! pic.twitter.com/l1EjmFOCBf

— Sacred Heart Women's Soccer (@SHU_WSOCCER) September 19, 2024

 
 
The Pios continued to pester their Merritt Parkway opposition, but it was the Bulldogs who aimed to play spoiler on SHU's historic night, capitalizing on a corner kick opportunity in the 62^nd minute to reclaim the lead in the final half hour. 
 
With the hosts continuing to hold SHU honest, the Pios continued to funnel chances toward the Bulldog net until the final horn sounded, including a close chance in the waning seconds of the game that nearly found a Pioneer head. However, Yale was equal to the remaining few SHU chances to grind out a 2-1 win on Wednesday night. 
 
Top Performers: 

• Morgan Bovardi: 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
• Grace O'Hara: 1 assist, 2 shots, 1 on goal
• Lauren Calabro: 5 saves

 
Of Note: 

• With an assist on Bovardi's second half goal, Grace O'Hara is now the leading, career point-scorer in program history, breaking Paula Pineda's (2000-03) record of 62 points with her 63^rd in the match. O'Hara is now also tied with Alyssa Brandofino (2010-13) for the all-time record in career assists with 15. 
• Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Calabro made her first collegiate start in the match five shots including one on Ellie Rappole early in the second half that kept the Pios in the match. 
• Bovardi's goal is her second goal of the season and her first since scoring in the road match against Navy on Aug. 22. 
• With Bovardi's goal and O'Hara's assist, the Pioneers currently have a four-way tie for the team lead in points as Bovardi, O'Hara, Lyndsey Laperle and Rylee McGee all have four points on the season. 

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, September 21, taking on Manhattan University to begin the final stretch of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Kickoff from Gaelic Park in Riverdale, N.Y. is scheduled for noon. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.