FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team heads back into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend hosting Mount St. Mary's as part of a SHU Soccer Doubleheader with the men's soccer team. Kickoff from Park Ave Field is slated for 3:30 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers had concluded their nonconference slate during matchweek five, powering through a rough, road contest to Ivy League opposition Yale in what was a 2-1 decision in favor of the Bulldogs at Reese Stadium on Wednesday, September 18 before heading into MAAC play against Manhattan, finishing with a 1-1 draw at Gaelic Park on Saturday, September 21. 
 
Against the Bulldogs, the Pioneers came out swinging, funneling a plethora of chances toward the Yale penalty area. However, the Bulldogs were up to the task in the first half hour of the match, pushing the Pios away on their first few opportunities of the match. Looking to turn the tide, the hosts found the breakthrough in the waning seconds of the first half, converting on a penalty kick with 32 seconds left in the half to take a 1-0 lead into the break. 
 
Coming out of the break, the Pios pounced on the hosts, looking to turn the tide. With history on the line, SHU found the equalizing goal as Morgan Bovardi sent in a soaring header from a Grace O'Hara cross to not only level the score but gave O'Hara the program record in career points with her 63^rd career point. The Pios continued to find ways to pester the bulldogs, however, the hosts had the last tally of the evening, connecting on a corner kick chance in the 62^nd minute to ride out a 2-1 win. 
 
In the Saturday affair against Manhattan, a pair of second-half goals were the lone tallies as the teams played out to a 1-1 tie to begin the final stretch of conference play. The Jaspers got the scoring started in the 58^thminute connecting on a corner kick opportunity for the game's opening goal. 
 
Just over eight minutes later, the Pios grabbed the equalizer as a lovely cross from Lindsay McShea found a streaking Shea Kelleher which the forward slotted into the netting to level the scoreline, 1-1. The Pios continued to search for what could have been the game winning goal but could not convert as the Red & White earned their first point of conference play with the 1-1 draw. 
 
ON MOUNT St. MARY'S
 
Mount St. Mary's heads into matchweek six having stopped a three-match losing streak last week courtesy of a 2-0 decision over Marist last Saturday for their fourth win of the season and first win in MAAC play. The Mountaineers struck first in the opening half with a goal in the 27^th minute from Sydoney Clarke before tacking on an olimpico from a corner kick in the 74^th minute to grab a 2-0 win over the Red Foxes. 
 
The Mountaineers have 10 different players who have recorded a point this season with Sydoney Clarke leading the way in points (8) and goals (4) with four starts in nine appearances for MSM. Ines Gama Ferreira leads the team with two assists this season which are her lone points in 2024. Freshman Adelaide Paredes leads her squad between the sticks having started and finished all nine matches this season, grabbing her fourth shutout of the season in the 2-0 win over the Red Foxes. Paredes boasts a 1.44 goals against average and a .780 save percentage. 
 
Melissa Sherwood leads MSM in her third season with the Mountaineers, grabbing a 14-20 -15 record during her tenure. Overall, Sherwood boasts a 24-71-15 record in seven seasons as a head coach. SHU currently holds the lead in the all-time series against the Mountaineers (11-4-1) including a 7-1 home record. Though the Pios hold a 6-3-1 record in the last 10 matches, MSM grabbed the last meeting between the two teams in Emmitsburg, Md., by virtue of a 3-1 scoreline in September 2021. 
 
HEY SHEA!
With her second-half goal against the Jaspers, sophomore Shea Kelleher now sits tied for the team lead in points (4) and goals (2) after collecting her first goal of the season in SHU's season-opener against La Salle.
 
Kelleher now has eight goals in her first two seasons with the Red & White and has accrued 18 points so far in her career. As a first year, Kelleher played in every match for the Pios and racked up Northeast Conference (NEC) All-Rookie team honors with 14 points in her first season. 
 
BEING BOVARDI
With a goal against Yale, Morgan Bovardi now sits tied with five Pioneers atop the team leaderboard in points (4) and tied with three other Pios with two goals this season as the junior forward looks to build upon an eight-goal campaign last season. 
 
A native of Boxford, Mass., Bovardi has been a two-time All-NEC selection after posting impressive 20 and 19 point campaigns in her first two years with the Red & White. Boavrdi, who has appeared in 46 matches for SHU, has also started all but one of those matches and currently sits three goals back from tying Kristin Verrette (2011-14) for third all-time in career goals with Verrette having potted 22 in her career. 
 
LIVIN' LIKE LAUREN 
Having appeared in only two matches last season, sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Calabro has earned her first two starts of her collegiate career, coming in back-to-back games for the Pios last week in a two-match set. Having grabbed two saves in relief against the Marist Red Foxes in her first appearance this season, Calabro has accumulated eight saves in her last two appearances between the sticks, boasting a 1.20 goals against average in 2024. 
 
Having seen limited action last season, Calabro played just over 68 minutes, including a second-half appearance in a 2-2 draw against Yale last season at Park Ave Field that saw her accumulate five saves. In her career, Calabro has earned a 1.54 goals against average coupled with a .750 save percentage in five appearances for the Red & White.