June 28, 2004

2004 Schedule

FAIRFIELD, CT (June 28, 2004) - Sacred Heart University head women's soccer coach Joe Barroso announced the Pioneer's schedule for the upcoming 2004 season. The schedule is highlighted with road trips to national powers Boston College and the University of Connecticut along with the traditional Northeast Conference match-ups.

The Pioneers kick-off the season on August 27th and 29th at the University of Maine Tournament. SHU will face the host Black Bears and Marist College over the opening weekend. Two return road match-ups at Brown and Yale give the Pioneers a chance to avenge two tough results from last year. SHU battled the Bears to a 0-0 tie and fell in the closing seconds to the Bulldogs, 3-2.

The home portion of the 2004 slate gets underway on Sunday, September 12th when Sacred Heart hosts Northeastern at 2:00 pm. The Pioneers will play just five times on Campus Field this year, September 12th against the Huskies, October 1st vs. Long Island, October 3rd vs. Wagner, October 15th vs. St. Francis (PA) and October 17th vs. Robert Morris.

For the third-straight season, SHU will take part in the University at Albany Governor's Cup Tournament on September 17th and 19th. The Pioneers will take on the Siena College Saints in the opening round and face the host Great Danes on the second day of competition.

The Albany Tournament will serve as the Pioneer's final tune-up before the NEC portion of the schedule gets underway on September 24th. The league schedule opens with a premier match-up as SHU travels to Central Connecticut in a rematch of last season's NEC Championship game. The Pioneers came up just short in their bid for the title, losing in a penalty kick shootout, 6-5. Coach Barroso and his squad will be out to set the tone for the conference season with a strong showing against the perennial league favorite.

The Pioneers will face two late season tests as they travel to Boston College on October 19th and to the University of Connecticut on October 24th. The Eagles finished 2003 ranked 25th in the nation after falling to Central Connecticut in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies finished ranked 2nd overall, falling in the title game to North Carolina who captured their 18th title in the last 22 years.

The NEC Tournament will take place on November 5th and 7th as the site moves back to the campus of CCSU in New Britain, CT. The top four teams in the league will qualify with an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament at stake. The Pioneers have qualified the past three seasons with the 2001 title on their resume as they look for a fourth-straight trip and another run at the league crown.

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