Fairfield, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team will travel to South Burlington, Vermont, for a two-game road series against Saint Michael's at Cairns Arena on Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31. The Pioneers enter this New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) matchup looking to build on their current win streak, which began with a series sweep last weekend.
 
Top Headlines:

• The Pioneers are coming off a huge weekend, sweeping Saint Anselm, the No. 1 team in the NEWHA, to pick up crucial points in the conference standings. While there is still plenty of work to be done, it was an important step in the right direction. The Pioneers currently sit seventh in the standings, just three points behind Post for sixth place and five points behind LIU for fifth. The Pios will look to keep the momentum rolling as they travel to Saint Michael's.
• Bria Holm is coming off the best series of her collegiate career. On Friday, Holm recorded the first multi-goal game of her career, a hat trick, that powered the Pioneers to a 5–2 victory. She wasn't done there, adding two assists on Saturday to finish the weekend with five total points and lead the Pioneers to a 3–1 victory. Holm also now leads the Pioneers in assists with eight.
• Sophomore Ella Holm leads the Pioneers in points this season. After recording an assist over the weekend, her point total now stands at 13, highlighted by six goals and seven assists. Holm also leads the Pios in power-play goals with four and has added 25 blocked shots on the year. She has been a key contributor on both ends of the ice.
• Senior defender Olivia LaRoche has been a steady anchor on the blue line all season long. LaRoche leads the team with 55 blocked shots, more than 20 ahead of the next closest teammate, highlighting her impact on the defensive end. She has also contributed offensively, recording seven assists, tied for second most on the team, and adding two goals on the season.
• Goaltender Jillian Petruno is another Pioneer coming off a huge weekend between the pipes. Petruno turned aside 66 shots in the two-game sweep of Saint Anselm, allowing just three goals and posting an impressive .957 save percentage. On the season, she now has 584 saves and a .943 save percentage, which ranks seventh nationally. Petruno will look to carry that level of play forward as the Pioneers aim to extend their winning streak.
• Another player coming off a strong weekend is Shae Carroll. Carroll tallied two goals in Saturday's win over Saint Anselm, leading the Pioneers to a 3–1 victory. She has been a steady offensive presence all season and now has five goals and three assists on the year.

 
History vs Saint Michael's:

• Sacred Heart's most recent meeting with Saint Michael's came earlier this season on Oct. 25, 2025. The Pioneers earned a 6–0 shutout, scoring twice in the second period and adding four more in the third.
• Sacred Heart holds a 41-5-5 all-time record against Saint Michael's, dating back to their first meeting on Jan. 10, 2006. The Pioneers went unbeaten from January 13, 2018, through November 16, 2024, with their lone loss in that stretch coming on February 7, 2025.

 
On Saint Michael's

• Saint Michael's has endured a difficult season, one that has tested the program night after night. The Purple Knights have not recorded a win since Oct. 11, 2025, and enter play with a 1-23-0 record, currently riding a 20-game losing streak. Offensive production has been a major challenge, as Saint Michael's has scored just 15 total goals on the season and has been shut out 16 times, while allowing 124 goals against.
• Recent results highlight the uphill battle they face. Saint Michael's was swept by Saint Anselm on Jan. 16 and 17 by scores of 5-0 and 4-0, respectively. In contrast, Sacred Heart defeated Saint Anselm just last weekend, earning 5-2 and 3-1 victories on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 23–24), underscoring the gap in momentum between the teams. Special teams have also been an area of struggle, as the Purple Knights have converted just three goals on 64 power-play opportunities.
• Despite the results, individual efforts have stood out. Brianna Jarvis leads the team with four goals, followed by Alicia McDonald with three, while Kyler Weatherred paces the squad with four assists. Defensively, Saint Michael's has relied heavily on shot blocking, totaling 426 blocks this season. Maddie Quinn leads the way with 95, with Emersynn McGillis adding 49 and Katelyn Aleong and Victoria FitzGibbon contributing 34 each.
• In net, Annika Lavender holds a 1-15 record, allowing 69 goals while making 746 saves, while McKenna Dans sits at 0-8 with 52 goals against and 429 saves. Both goaltenders have faced sustained pressure throughout the season, often seeing high shot volumes as Saint Michael's continues to battle through a challenging campaign.

 
Up Next:

• Following the two-game road series against Saint Michael's, the Pioneers will return to action in a home-and-home series against Post. Game one is set for Friday, February 6 at Post, before the series shifts to Martire Family Arena on Saturday, February 7. Puck drop for the two games is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.