Field Hockey Clinches MAAC Tournament Berth With 6-3 Win over LIU Brooklyn

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Sacred Heart University field hockey team clinched a berth in the MAAC tournament for the first time since 2014 after defeating LIU Brooklyn, 6-3, Friday evening. Kelsy Hopkins recorded a hat trick in the win, with Colleen McAninley, Emily Alexis and Allie Brouhard also tallying a goal apiece.
The Pioneers return to action on Sunday, Oct. 21, when SHU plays host to Quinnipiac at 5 p.m.
The Scoring
(6:39): Makenna Crawford sent a pass to Hopkins who snuck it past the keeper to give SHU a 1-0 lead
(22:10): Brouhard sent in the corner to Marlena Koellner, who stopped it while Emily Alexis fired it home for a 2-0 lead
(23:57): Eva van Wakeren corralled a loose ball and fired it past the keeper to cut the SHU lead to 2-1
(33:37): Bridget LaRiccia sent a pass to Brouhard who finished the play with a goal to give SHU a 3-1 lead
(40:11): Casey Carrigan sent a pass to van Wakeren in front of the net and she put it past the keeper to cut the Pioneers' lead to 3-2
(50:41): Kayla Kruk sent a long pass to Hopkins, who made a move past a defender in the circle then shot past the keeper to extend the SHU lead to 4-2
(65:48): Brouhard sent a pass to Hopkins in the circle, who snuck it past the keeper for her third goal of the game
(67:42): McAninley carried the ball into the circle and fired it home to give SHU a comfortable 6-2 lead
(70:00): van Wakeren scored on a penalty stroke to cement the 6-3 final
Noteworthy
With the win, the Pioneers clinched its first MAAC tournament berth since the 2014 season
Hopkins' hat trick is the first time a Pioneer has scored three goals in a game since Carisa Eye accomplished the feat in a 3-1 win over Robert Morris on Sept. 26, 2008
Hopkins' seven goals on the season are a career-high, exceeding her total of four from last season
Hopkins and McAninley are tied for the team-lead with seven goals on the season
Hopkins and McAninley are tied for the team-lead with 17 points on the season
Hopkins three goals in the win is her first multi-goal outing of the season
Alexis' goal was the first of her collegiate career
Brouhard's goal gave her five on the season, which gives her the third-most on the team
Brouhard's 15 points are third-most on the team
Brouhard's five assists on the season leads the team
Koellner's assist in the game brings her total to her two on the season
LaRiccia's assist was the first of her career, along with her first point of her collegiate career
Kruk''s assist was the first of her career, along with her first point of her collegiate career
Hailey Power got the start and recorded a save in the win