Sacred Heart Routs Central Connecticut, 18-3
from press release
FAIRFIELD, CT -- Sacred Heart senior Carissa
Hauser (East Northport, NY) scored five goals with a pair of
assists as the Pioneers shut out Central Connecticut in the second
half en route to an 18-3 win in their Northeast Conference opener
Friday afternoon. The win marked the 100th career victory for
Sacred Heart head coach Laura Cook, the program's all-time leader
in wins.
Sacred Heart senior goalkeeper Chelsea Wagner (Aurora, CO) made 10
saves in earning the victory and becomes the school's all-time
leader in career wins for a goalie with 33. She passes former
Pioneer Ginny Capicchioni who had 32 from 1998 through 2001.
Defensively, the Pioneers (3-4, 1-0 NEC) forced 30 Central
turnovers and 14 failed clear attempts (9-23) while keeping the
Blue Devils off the scoreboard for a 21 minute stretch in the first
half and the entire second half. Senior Nicole Gerosa (Branford,
CT) had four of the SHU's 18 caused turnovers while sophomore Kate
Kmiotek (Farmingville, NY) had four grounders and five draw
controls in the win.
The Blue Devils (2-3, 0-2 NEC) answered each of the Pioneers early
goals to keep it tied just over eight minutes in. Hauser buried her
first of the day to open the scoring at 28:28 but Central's Ashley
Mara followed off a feed from Ali Roche at 25:52. Senior Cori
Horelik (South Windsor, CT) scored unassisted at 23:38 but the Blue
Devils answered once again with a Mackenzy Ryan marker from Betsy
Vendel at 21:52.
From there it was all Sacred Heart as the Pioneers held Central off
the scoreboard until the 40 second mark while running off
five-straight scores. Hauser buried a pair on the run while also
setting up senior teammate Farra Coppola (Wantagh, NY) for a score.
Sophomore Alicia Fuchs (Bay Shore, NY) also scored and set up
another. CCSU would end the run as Mara scored her second off a
feed from Vendel with 40 seconds to go before the half to trail 7-3
at the half.
SHU outshot Central 16-6 in the second half as they rattled off
11-straight scores while keeping the Blue Devils off the
scoreboard. SHU's Jackie Pierce (Cortlandt Manor, NY) opened the
half with a pair of scores and Hauser tacked on her fourth and
fifth of the afternoon. For Hauser it was her third five-goal game
this season as she raised her team-leading totals to 21 goals and
13 assists for the year.
Sophomore Aurelie Pluijmakers (Freehold, NJ) put together a
three-goal run in the second half for her first points on the
season. Kmiotek, Fuchs and Horelik all scored their second goals of
the win in the second half.
The Pioneers will close out a four-game home stand this Sunday
afternoon, March 21st as they play host to the Bryant Bulldogs at
1:00 pm.
