Sept. 27, 2007

Setting the Scene... The Pioneer field hockey team begins a five game road trip with visits to Monmouth and Yale this weekend. Friday's NEC tilt with Monmouth is set for a 4:00 pm face-off while Sunday's game with in-state rival Yale is slated for a 2:00 pm start.

SHU Drops NEC Opener... The Pioneers lost their NEC opener 5-1 to Lock Haven Sunday. Junior Carisa Eye scored the Pioneers only goal and now has a team leading six on the season.

Last Meeting vs Monmouth... Carisa Eye tallied four goals to help Sacred Heart defeat the Monmouth, 7-0, in last year's NEC opener at Campus Field.

Scouting the Hawks... Monmouth is off to a 1-7 start on the year but is coming off their first win, a 2-1 triumph over Fairfield last Saturday. The Hawks have had trouble finding the back of the cage, being outscored 38-9 in eight games. Kelly Crist leads the Hawks offense with four goals.

Last Meeting vs Yale... Carisa Eye scored two goals and Ashley Del Greco made seven saves in goal as the Pioneers held off Yale, 3-2, last year at Johnson Field.

Scouting the Bulldogs... Yale is off to a 2-5 start this year but is coming off a 7-0 win over Fairfield Sunday afternoon. Sophomore forward Ashley McCauley enters the week fourth in the country in goals per game (1.00, seven in seven games) and seventh in points per game (2.29, 16 in seven games). All 16 of her points have come in the last four games, including seven in the most recent game. She currently leads the Ivy League in scoring. The Yale defense has held five of seven opponents to two or fewer goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Charlotte Goins is fourth in the country in both save percentage (.829) and saves per game (9.71). She has a scoreless streak of 100:30 in progress.

Seeing Eye...The Pioneers welcome back the reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Year, junior Carisa Eye. Eye led the league and was second in the country in scoring in 2006, tallying 32 goals and 2 assists for 66 points on the season. She was named Third-Team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association in addition to earning first-team All-Region honors.

Between the Pipes... Junior Kristen McIntire has stepped in to become the Pioneers new number one goaltender this season. She has already posted one shutout, in the Pioneers first win of the season against Maine. She then made 17 saves against Boston College and Iowa, the second most by any goalie in the country in a game this year. McIntire has 91 saves on the season, more then any Pioneer goaltender had all of last season.

Up Next... The Pioneers road trip continues next Sunday at 12:00 pm when they head out to Lorreto to take on Saint Francis (PA) in more NEC action.