Oct. 9, 2007

Setting the Scene... The Pioneer field hockey team plays two in-state rivalary games this week as they close out a five game road trip. SHU will visit Fairfield Wednesday at 4:00 pm and then head up I-95 to take on Quinnipiac Sunday at 12:00 pm.

Eye leads SHU Past SFPA... Junior Carisa Eye tallied two goals and an assist to lead Sacred Heart to a 3-0 victory over Saint Francis (PA) in field hockey action Sunday at DeGol Field. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Pioneers and was SHU's first Northeast Conference win of the season.

Last Meeting vs Fairfield... Freshman Ashton DiDonato scored the game winning goal with 5:17 left in the second overtime and junior Elizabeth Thomas made 15 saves in goal as Fairfield spoiled senior day, outlasting Sacred Heart, 2-1, in double overtime last season at Campus Field.

Scouting the Stags... In their first year as a member of the America East field hockey conference, Fairield is 2-11 on the season with an 0-4 mark in league play. The Stags have lost three straight games after being swept in league play over the weekend. Fairfield has been outscored 42-10 on the year. Amy Hoskin, Emily Janis and Molly Byrnes each have a pair of goals on the season. Elizabeth Thomas has turned in a 3.91 goals against average for the Stags.

Last Meeting vs Quinnipiac... Carisa Eye and Colleen Carney scored two goals apiece to lead Sacred Heart to a 4-1 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats last year at Campus Field.

Scouting the Bobcats... After starting the regular season with high expectations, Quinnipiac has lost their last nine games and starts the week with a 1-11 record and is 0-3 in NEC play. The Bobcats were swept in a trip to Lock Haven and St. Francis (PA) last weekend. Quinnipiac has been outscored 40-13 on the season. Jillian Carroll and Christine Grady each have four goals to lead the attack. Goaltender Jenna Grossman, a first team All-NEC sekletion in 2006 has struggled this year, posting a 3.18 goals against average, nearly a full goal higher then her 2006 number.

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. This year she leads the team in scoring with 10 goals.

Power Outage... The Pioneers have had trouble scoring goals early in the year, having tallied just 17 goals in their first 12 games. Only five players have found the back of the net for SHU, led by Eye's 10 goals. The Pioneers have been outscored 42-17 on the year.

Up Next... The Pioneers close out the regular season with four straight home games. The homestand opens Friday October 19th when SHU welcomes Siena to Campus Field at 1:00 pm and continues Sunday when Rider comes to visit at 12:00 pm. SHU's final two home games will be October 26th against Robert Morris and October 28th against New Hampshire. The Northeast Conference tournament, featuring the top four teams in the league standings, will take place November 2-3 at the home of the highest seed.