The Sacred Heart University (SHU) women’s hockey team opened their season with a 5-2 win over Saint Michael’s College on Sept. 29th. They are currently 1-4 on the season.
Junior Kate Helgeson and sophomore Kailey Smith lead the way with one goal and one assist each.
“The team played really really well, we had five different goal scores, a lot of players contributed assist-wise as well. It was a total team effort, total team game. Our goaltender Carly Greene played extremely well, and it was a good start to the season, and it was a good message that we sent to the hockey world too,” said head coach Thomas O’Malley.
This season, the team was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance Conference (NEWHA).
“Being back on the ice is always a good feeling and it was a solid way to start the season. I’m glad we won; it was a game that gave us a lot of things to work on going into the regular season,” said junior Carly Greene.
Helgeson is one of the SHU women’s hockey team’s transfer additions after she spent the last two seasons at Quinnipiac.
“It has been amazing. Sacred Heart is a great school, and a lot of the things feel the same. Coming to a brand-new arena and a new team has been super fun and it has been an awesome transition for me,” said Helgeson.
O’Malley highlighted the values instilled within the team on and off the ice.
“The pillars of the program are the character part, the academic part, and of course, the hockey part. Our team is made up of good people, really good people,” said O’Malley.
The Pioneers were the fourth seed in the NEWHA tournament last season. After defeating Post University in the first round of the tournament, SHU fell to Franklin Pierce
University in the second round of the tournament.
“I am excited for our two tournaments that are coming up and being able to play lots of non-conference opponents,” said Greene.
The Pioneers are currently ranked fifth in the NEWHA.
“I think our team has so much potential and chemistry, and we all have high hopes for this season. We have all the resources to be a very successful team. I am new to this conference, but our team’s expectations for this year is to win the NEWHA Championship,” Hegelson said.
“Our main goal is to have fun and enjoy the season because it goes by too fast,” said Helgeson.
The women’s hockey team is back on the ice against Lindenwood University on Friday, Oct. 20 at the Martire Family Arena.
Sacred Heart Athletics contributed to this article.
