A standoff in a snowstorm sent the Sacred Heart University women’s soccer team and Canisius University to a penalty shootout to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship on Nov. 9. Sacred Heart came away victorious in the shootout, sending them to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. The win was an upset as the #4 seed Pioneers took down the #3 seeded Golden Griffins to win the MAAC conference for the first time in the school’s history, in only their second season as a part of the conference.
Contributed by Graduate Student Andy Trevino
Championship game at Cansiuis Univeristy, Buffalo, NY on Sunday Nov. 9, 2025.
Contributed by Graduate Student Andy Trevino
In the first round of the tournament on Nov. 2, the Pioneers defeated #5 Siena College 2-1 in dramatic fashion, with freshman Riley Pettigrew scoring the winner with less than five minutes to play. In game two on Nov. 6, the women upset #1 seeded Fairfield University, with senior Morgan Bovardi’s goal with six minutes left being the difference in a 1-0 win.
“We hoped to make the playoffs and if we played well and received a few breaks, we could challenge for the league, but I’d be lying if I said we expected to win it,” said head coach Matt Micros.
In the Championship Game, a tough matchup against Canisius was half the battle, as an unexpected weather condition arose at halftime.
“It was hailing and then [the snow] started in the second half, and then it kept getting worse and worse,” said senior Theanna Burnett.
After making it to the penalty shootout, Burnett stepped up to take the potential championship-clinching penalty shot, with the score of the shootout being 3-3, in the sixth round.
“I knew which way I was going to go, and I was going to stick to it,” said Burnett. “As much pressure as that is, I knew that at the end of the day what happened is what was meant to be.”
Stepping up for the kick with growing tension, Burnett buried her shot with confidence to put the Pioneers up by one in the shootout.
Then, it all came down to junior goalkeeper Kyran Thievon. The Canisius kicker prepared to tie the shootout, but it was Thievon’s diving save that cemented the Pioneers as MAAC Champions.
Thievon won the award for Player of the Tournament, after allowing only one goal through three matches and coming up clutch in the penalty shootout in the final.
“With anything I get awarded for, it’s mostly the team too because I’m just the last resort. They’re doing things the entire game, I’m just trying to do my job to help the team. So if I do something good, it’s just one person out of 11,” said Thievon.
Taking their celebrating on the field to Red’s Pub with the NCAA bracket reveal watch party, the Pioneers were scheduled to play the #2 seed Georgetown University in the tournament’s opening round.
On Nov. 14, the team traveled to the nation’s capital for their first appearance in the NCAA playoffs. After a tough matchup, the Pioneers fell 3-0, ending the women’s historic season.
“As I told them before the NCAA game, they exceeded our expectations for them, and I don’t say that lightly because we always set high expectations,” said Micros. “There are so many things I am proud of them for; their resilience in bouncing back from tough losses, their work ethic, and their positivity with each other.”
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
