Oct. 12, 2006

Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Fairleigh Dickinson

Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 1:00 pm EST Teaneck, N.J. - University Field.

Pioneers Open Three-Game Road Swing at FDU... The Sacred Heart women's soccer team starts a three game road swing this Saturday at Fairleigh Dickinson as the battle for positioning in the Northeast Conference standings heats up in the final weeks of the regular season. The Pioneers are 2-2 in the NEC and with six points, sits all alone in fourth place in the standings. SHU currently holds the longest streak of consecutive NEC Tournament appearances at five-straight as they head into the home stretch looking still in the hunt for a spot.

Series vs. Fairleigh Dickinson... The all-time series is tied at 3-3-1 between the two schools. The Pioneers took a 3-1 decision at home last season and split two meetings on the road in 2004. SHU lost to the Knights 2-1 in the season finale that year but rebounded with a 2-1 win a week later in the first round of the NEC Tournament. The two teams tied 0-0 in the first meeting during the 2000 season.

Scouting the Knights... The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights are 2-9-1 overall and 1-3 in the NEC. FDU's lone league win came last time out, 2-1 over Wagner. The Knights have been outscored 36-7 on the year with Natalie Bellini and Liza Offreda leading the team with two goals apiece. Lora Lehr, Christine Niven and Katie Hilder have the remaining FDU scores. Kyla Clark has started nine games and played the majority of minutes in goal. Clark has 91 saves and a 3.09 goals against average.

Last Time Out... Senior Selima Berisha scored the only goal of the game in the 59th minute, and goaltender Stephanie Kasky made six saves as Long Island held off Sacred Heart, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon. Berisha's game winner came at the 58:19 mark after a lob pass from junior Amy Paige. Berisha took the ball just inside the 18 yard box and fired a shot that rolled into the left corner of the net, past the outstretched arms of Pioneer goaltender Ashley Mocarski. The Pioneers controlled most of the game offensively, out shooting the Blackbirds 10-6. Sophomore Britney Dupee led the way with four shots, three of which went on goal. The Pioneers best scoring opportunity came in the 12th minute when freshman Ashley Testani fired a header off a corner kick that went just over the crossbar of the goal.

Gametracker... Fans can follow all the action of select women's soccer games this season by visiting SacredHeartPioneers.com and clicking on the Gametracker link on the Women's Soccer Schedule page. All Pioneer home games will feature the Gametracker feature this season.

Up Next... The Pioneers will travel to two instate rivals next weekend facing Central Connecticut on Friday, October 20th and Quinnipiac on Sunday, October 22nd.

Mocarski Posts Another Shutout... Senior goalkeeper Ashley Mocarski picked up her second shutout of the season last weekend, making just one save in a 4-0 win over Wagner. Mocarski has played every minute (1275:38) in goal for the Pioneers this season and has a 2.40 goals against average and 85 saves. She now has nine career shutouts in four seasons.

Flodin Gives a Helping Foot?... Freshman Stina Flodin turned in a breakout game offensively for the Pioneers, setting up the first three goals in a 4-0 win over Wagner College, marking the first collegiate points of her career. The freshman midfielder set up the first SHU goal, and what proved to be the game winner in the 27th minute. She sent a ball to Britney Dupee who finished it off to the top left corner. Flodin took a throw-in on the left sideline in the 31st minute, playing the ball to the feet of Alison Rojas who turned and placed a shot in the top-right corner. Flodin finished off her helping hand day by crossing a pass into the middle of the box for fellow freshman Christina Soave who knocked one in off the right post. Flodin has played in all 14 games this season earning 12 starts. Her three assists ties her with Rojas for the team lead

Junior Alison Rojas on the Offensive... Junior Alison Rojas scored her first career goal and picked up her third assist of the season in leading Sacred Heart to a 4-0 win over Wagner. Rojas scored her first career marker in the 31st minute of action when she collected a throw-in from freshman Stina Flodin 25 yards out and then perfectly lofted a ball into the upper right corner to give SHU a 2-0 lead at the half. Rojas added to her multi-point day by setting up teammate Lisa Burbige in the 79th minute of action. Rojas stole a pass at the midfield line and broke up the left sideline on a breakaway. When it looked as if she would fire on goal at an oncoming Seahawk keeper, she threaded a perfect pass to Burbige in front who easily sent the ball high and in. She currently has a goal and three assists on the season, tied for second on the team with five points.

Tough Schedule... The Pioneer's schedule features five teams that participated in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette, Hostra, Boston College and Central Connecticut all made it to the NCAA's in 2005. This season, BC, UW-Milwaukee, Marquette, Maine, Colgate, St. John's, Brown, Hofstra and Monmouth are all currently ranked in the regional polls.

Pioneers in the Northeast Conference... Sacred Heart begins it's seventh season of play in the Northeast Conference this fall. The Pioneers own an NEC title, the 2001 championship won at St. Francis-PA in Loretto, Pennsylvania. SHU beat Quinnipiac, 2-1, in overtime in the semifinals and beat UMBC, 1-0, for the title. The Pioneers are currently riding a five-year streak of NEC tournament appearances, the longest active streak in the league.

Program History... This is the Pioneer's 15th year of competition and their seventh in the Northeast Conference. Sacred Heart has qualified for the NEC Tournament five straight seasons and won the 2001 championship qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. SHU posts a 59-68-16 since joining the ranks of Division I in 1999. The Pioneers are 42-25-11 in league play in their six seasons in the NEC. Sacred Heart is 89-119-18 in their 15 years of competition.