Fairfield, Conn – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team returns to New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) conference play this weekend, traveling to Franklin Pierce for a two-game series. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m., followed by game two on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
 
Top Headlines

• The Pioneers enter their first NEWHA series of the new year following a challenging home matchup against the No. 3-ranked team in the country, Minnesota. SHU will look to get back on track as the final stretch of conference play begins. With each game carrying increased importance, the Pioneers currently sit seventh in the conference standings. With 14 games remaining, there is still plenty of time for SHU to climb back into the mix, but that push needs to start this weekend at Franklin Pierce.
• Despite a weekend that didn't go the way the Pioneers had hoped, there were still some bright spots, two in particular. The first was senior captain Jillian Petruno. Even while giving up four goals, Petruno put in a strong performance, facing 52 shots and stopping 48 of them to keep the score respectable against Minnesota. The second bright spot was Ella Holm, who scored both of SHU's goals in Saturday night's loss. Those two goals increased her season total to six, maintaining her position as the team's leading goal scorer.
• Senior defender Olivia LaRoche has continued to anchor the Pioneers' defense this season. Through 20 games, she has blocked 45 shots while also contributing offensively, recording two goals and five assists. LaRoche will look to maintain her strong two-way play as SHU enters the final stretch of conference play.
• Senior Alyssa Antonakis continues to lead the Pioneers in assists with six this season. A consistent playmaker, Antonakis often finds herself in prime scoring opportunities in front of the net. She has totaled 34 shots and added two goals on the year. Antonakis will look to showcase her playmaking skills this weekend as SHU faces the Ravens.
• Jillian Petruno has been phenomenal all season and is gaining national recognition for her play. She currently ranks seventh in the country in save percentage, stopping 430 of 457 shots for an impressive .941 mark while allowing 27 goals. Petruno will look to carry this high level of play into the series against the Ravens.
• Through 16 games, senior defender Julianna Koman has been a stabilizing force on the blue line, leading the team with a +4 plus-minus rating. Paired with LaRoche, she has anchored the Pioneer defense while contributing 23 blocked shots. Offensively, Koman has chipped in with one goal and two assists, showing she can impact play at both ends of the ice.

 
History vs Franklin Pierce

• The last meeting between the two programs came early in the season on October 10–11, when the Pioneers hosted Franklin Pierce for a two-game series. The teams split the matchup, with each side earning a win. Franklin Pierce claimed game one with a 4–2 victory, while the Pioneers responded in game two with a dominant 6–2 win. SHU put on an offensive clinic in the finale, as five different players found the back of the net, including a pair of goals from Julia Zielinska.
• The all-time series between the two programs is as even as it gets, with both teams owning identical 24-24-5 records. As longtime NEWHA rivals, the Pioneers and Ravens are very familiar with one another, and both sides will look to secure a sweep this weekend to gain the edge in the all-time series.

 
On Franklin Pierce

• Franklin Pierce enters the series as one of the strongest defensive teams in the conference. The Ravens have limited opponents to just two goals per game, a formula that has led to consistent success and a current second-place standing in the NEWHA. Franklin Pierce has also been excellent on the penalty kill, successfully killing off 61 of 68 penalties for a 90 percent success rate.
• The Ravens' leading scorer this season is sophomore Bo Dean, who has recorded four goals and nine assists for a team-high 13 points. In addition to pacing the team offensively, Dean is tied for the most game-winning goals with two and has added one power-play goal. Overall, she has proven to be an effective playmaker this season, and the Pioneers will look to keep her in check throughout the two-game series.
• The Pioneers' second-leading scorer this season is sophomore Caleigh Murphy. Murphy leads the team in goals with six and has added six assists for a total of 12 points. She has also recorded one game-winning goal and one power-play goal. Defensively, Murphy has blocked 15 shots, showcasing her effectiveness on both ends of the ice.
• Senior defender Maggie Korneta has anchored the Ravens' blue line this season. Korneta leads the team with 34 blocked shots while also contributing offensively, totaling three goals and six assists for nine points. She also paces the Ravens in power-play goals with three and owns the team's best plus-minus rating at +8.
• Senior goaltender Jill Hertl has been the backbone of the Ravens all season. In 14 appearances, Hertl owns a 2.15 goals-against average and has turned aside 463 shots, good for an impressive .939 save percentage. She holds a 7-6-1 record with one shutout on the year. The Pioneers will look to challenge Hertl early by jumping out to a fast start.
• When Hertl is not in net, sophomore Rylee Eno has stepped in and delivered strong performances. In four appearances this season, Eno owns an impressive 0.55 goals-against average and has stopped 103 shots, resulting in a .981 save percentage. She holds a 3-1 record, with two of her three wins coming via shutout. No matter who is between the pipes for the Ravens, they will present a difficult challenge for opposing offenses.

 
Up Next
Following the series, the Pioneers will return home to continue NEWHA conference play as Stonehill visits Martire Family Arena for a two-game series. Game one is scheduled for Friday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m., followed by game two on Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 p.m.