Fairfield, Conn – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team will welcome Stonehill to Martire Family Arena this weekend for a two-game New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) series. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 2:00 p.m., followed by game two on Saturday, also set for a 2:00 p.m. puck drop.
 
Top Headlines:

• Following a two-game series at Franklin Pierce, the Pioneers dropped game one, 3–2 in overtime, before falling 3–1 in game two. With the losses, Sacred Heart now sits at 5–16–1 overall and 4–11–1 in NEWHA play. While the Pioneers have faced challenges throughout the season, with 12 conference games remaining, they will look to build momentum and finish the year strong.
• Despite the losses, there were several positives to take away from the weekend. Ally Cohen turned in a strong performance, scoring two goals. One on Friday and one on Saturday. With her weekend goals, Cohen's goal total has risen to five on the season, and she now has four assists, continuing to prove herself as a consistent offensive threat for the Pioneers. Another bright spot was Sacred Heart's dominance in the faceoff circle. Across both games, the Pioneers won the faceoff battle 79–52 and outshot the Ravens in each contest. Sacred Heart did a strong job controlling possession but was unable to capitalize on enough scoring opportunities.
• Through the season so far, Ella Holm remains the Pioneers' leading point scorer. Holm has recorded six goals and five assists for 11 total points, while her four power-play goals lead the team. In addition to her offensive production, Holm has blocked 18 shots, showcasing her ability to make an impact on both ends of the ice.
• Senior defender Olivia LaRoche tallied another assist this past weekend, bringing her season totals to two goals and six assists. The assist also marked the 30th of her career. In addition to her offensive contributions, LaRoche leads the team with 48 blocked shots, serving as an anchor on the defensive end of the ice. She will look to maintain that high level of play as the Pioneers continue through the remainder of the season.
• So far this season, senior captain Jillian Petruno has made 15 starts for the Pioneers, recording 464 saves and posting an impressive .939 save percentage, which ranks eighth in the nation. Petruno has consistently kept Sacred Heart competitive in every game she has played and will look to carry that success forward as the season continues.
• Senior Julianna Koman leads all Pioneers in plus/minus, sitting at a team-best +4. When she is on the ice, her impact is noticeable at both ends of the rink. On the season, Koman has recorded one goal and four assists offensively, while also contributing defensively with 26 blocked shots. Her two-way play has been a key factor for the Pioneers this year.

 
History vs Stonehill:

• This weekend will mark the 15th and 16th meetings between the Pioneers and the Skyhawks. Stonehill currently holds a slight edge in the all-time series, posting a 6-5-3 record against Sacred Heart. The Pioneers enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak but will look to snap it in this two-game set.
• The last time these two programs met was in mid-October. Game one was an overtime thriller, as the Pioneers erased a two-goal deficit in the final two minutes of regulation. Goals from Ella Holm and Olivia LaRoche forced overtime, but Stonehill ultimately secured the win in the extra period. In game two, the Pioneers were unable to respond, falling 2–0.

 
On Stonehill:

• Stonehill has gotten off to a strong start in conference play, currently sitting at 10-5-1 and third in the conference standings. The Skyhawks are averaging 2.6 goals per game while allowing 3.8, though those numbers are heavily skewed by a challenging non-conference schedule that included matchups against No. 1 Wisconsin, Mercyhurst, Syracuse, and Princeton. Even in conference play, Stonehill has been involved in several high-scoring contests and has come out on top in many of them.
• When it comes to faceoffs, the Skyhawks have won 691 faceoffs compared to their opponents' 655. They are also a solid team when it comes to killing off penalties. They kill penalties 77% of the time.
• The Skyhawks' top two-point producers are Gracie Sacca and Maddi Achtyl. Sacca leads the team with 13 assists and has added five goals during her senior campaign, totaling 18 points. Achtyl is the team's leading goal scorer, netting a team-high 13 goals, second most in the NEWHA. She also has a team-high four game-winning goals. Together, the duo has combined for 35 points, and the Pioneers will look to limit their production this weekend.
• Senior defender Sydney Russell leads the Skyhawks in blocked shots with 36 and has anchored the defense all season long. She has also been a threat offensively, scoring four goals and adding 11 assists for a total of 15 points.
• Additional point scorers the Pioneers will need to keep an eye on are Reagan Whynot and Bailey Feeney. Whynot ranks third on the team in points this season with 16, tallying six goals and 10 assists. She is a strong playmaker who can also finish scoring chances. Feeney provides a similar offensive threat, having recorded five goals and eight assists for a total of 13 points on the year.
• The Skyhawks utilize two goaltenders who both see consistent playing time. Alexsa Caron has appeared in 12 games, posting a 3.61 goals-against average while stopping 434 shots for a .914 save percentage. Eve Stone has also been in the net regularly, appearing in 11 games with a 3.85 goals-against average and 373 saves, good for a .901 save percentage. Both goaltenders have also had two shutout performances. Several high-scoring contests against a challenging non-conference schedule heavily influence both goaltenders' goals-against averages.

 
Up Next:

• Following the two-game series against Stonehill, the Pioneers will be staying home as they will host Saint Anselm for a two-game set. Game one is scheduled for Friday, January 23, at 5:00 pm, and game two is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 pm.