Fairfield, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team cruised past Saint Anselm in dominating fashion in game one of the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) series on Friday night, 5-2. 
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: (6-17-2, 5-12-2 NEWHA) 
Saint Anselm: (13-11-1, 13-5-1 NEWHA)
 
Top Performers:
Bria Holm: 3 goals 
Alyssa Antonakis: 1 goal
Julianna Koman: 1 goal
Maddie Smith: 2 assists
Addie Bowlby: 1 assist
Campbell Heger: 1 assist
Ella Holm: 1 assist
Olivia LaRoche: 1 assist
Grayson Limke: 1 assist
Reese Pascucci: 1 assist
 
Goaltending:
Sacred Heart: Jillian Petruno: (W, 6-9-1) 2 goals against | 35 saves 
Saint Anselm: Julia Matyas: (L, 3-2-1) 3 goals against | 9 saves | Kayla Czukoski: 2 goals | 19 saves
 
How it Happened:

• Sacred Heart set the tone early in the opening period, striking first and building momentum behind Bria Holm. Holm found the back of the net twice, once off a setup from Addie Bowlby and again with an assist from Maddie Smith, to give the Pioneers a 2–0 advantage. Saint Anselm pushed back late in the period, sneaking in a goal just before the horn to make it 2–1 heading into the break. The battle at the faceoff dot was tight, with Sacred Heart narrowly ahead, 13–12. While Saint Anselm generated more shots, outshooting the Pioneers 18–8, Sacred Heart stayed composed defensively, blocking six attempts. The period also marked a milestone for Holm, who recorded the first multi-goal game of her season—and her collegiate career.
• Sacred Heart wasted no time taking control in the second period, coming out with speed and confidence. Bria Holm stayed hot, burying her third goal of the game off assists from Pascucci and Heger to extend the lead to 3–1. Moments later, Antonkis joined the scoring surge, finishing a play set up by Maddie Smith and Limke to give the Pioneers a commanding 4–1 advantage. Saint Anselm answered back shortly after to trim the deficit, but Sacred Heart continued to dictate the pace of the period. While Saint Anselm held a narrow edge in total shots on goal, 25–23, the Pioneers controlled the second period, outshooting the Hawks 15–7. Faceoffs remained tight, with Sacred Heart holding a slim 21–20 advantage overall. Bria Holm capped off the period with four shots on goal and three goals, powering the Pioneers' offensive push.
• Sacred Heart kept its foot on the gas as the game wore on. Julianna Koman added to the Pioneers' lead, finishing a play set up by Olivia LaRoche and Ella Holm to make it 5–2. Saint Anselm continued to press offensively and finished the game with a slight edge in shots on goal, 37–33, including a 12–10 advantage in the period. Faceoffs remained a battle all night, but Sacred Heart stayed just ahead, winning 37–34 overall and 17–13 in the frame, with Jussila dominating at the dot by going 14–4. Defensively, the Pioneers were relentless, blocking 13 shots, with Lake Bethard and Pascucci each contributing two.

 
Of Note:

• Bria Holm has her first multi-goal game in her collegiate career.
• Bria Holm scores her second, third, and fourth goal of the season. 
• Bria Holm scores her tenth goal of her career. 
• Smith earns her second and third assists of the season and her career.
• Antonakis scores her third goal of the season. 
• Limke records her first assist of the season. 
• Addie Bowlby earns her third assist of the season.
• Pascucci records her fifth assist of the season.
• Heger earns her first assist of the season and second in her career.

 
Up Next:
The Pioneers are back again tomorrow, January 24, at 2:00 p.m. at Martire Family Arena as they conclude the NEWHA series against the Hawks.