Wildcats Edged 7-5 at Sacred Heart

Wednesday, March 5

Fairfield, Conn.

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-4

Sacred Heart

2-3

New Hampshire

Sacred Heart

Clara Pavuk_2025-02-08_11-43-40_DT7T1207

Photo by: Tim Cardew

3/5/2025 6:17:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Freshman goalkeeper Ellie Thomas (Needham, Mass.) recorded 10 saves but the University of New Hampshire women's lacrosse team was edged 7-5 by Sacred Heart University at Campus Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Thomas, the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Week, made four of her six first-half saves in the second quarter.

Senior captain Allie Connerty (Norwell, Mass.) and junior attack Rose Pavuk (York, Maine) both tallied a goal and two assists to lead UNH's attack with three points apiece.

Sacred Heart was led offensively by Shae Insinga's five points (four goals, one assist) while Lisa Martin made six saves.

UNH moves to 2-4 and SHU is 2-3.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action March 12 (4 p.m.) against Boston University for the Wildcats' second home game of the season.

FIRST QUARTER

Sacred Heart led 2-1 through 15 minutes.
Jamie Tanner opened the scoring a 11:05 and Insinga gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead at 8:13.
Kate O'Rourke (Franklin, Mass.) trimmed the deficit to one goal at 5:38 when she ripped a rising shot into the net from the top of the 8-meter arc. Pavuk, with the pass from the left wing, was credited with the assist.

SECOND QUARTER

Both teams scored one goal in the second quarter to advance the score to 3-2 heading into halftime.
From the top of the 12-meter, Julia Gronda (Pompton Plains, N.J.) fed a pass to the middle of the fan, where Connerty turned and fired a low shot into the goal to tie the score, 2-2, at 10:06.
Insinga's second goal put SHU back in front, 3-2, at 4:36 and the home team did not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

THIRD QUARTER

Insinga struck again at 8:27 and 4:04 of the third quarter to extend Sacred Heart's lead to 5-2.
Charlize Collins (Burlington, Mass.) caught Connerty's return pass while cutting down the middle of the fan and her shot into the cage lifted the 'Cats within 5-3 with 17 seconds on the clock.

FOURTH QUARTER

Both teams scored twice in the fourth quarter in what proved to be the highest scoring quarter of the game with four goals total.
Adisyn Bernhardt reestablished the largest lead of the game – three goals – at 6-3 with a goal at 12:39.
UNH's high-scoring duo of Connerty and Pavuk combined to produce the Wildcats' fourth goal of the game when Connerty fed a pass to Pavuk cutting down the middle of the fan for a goal at 11:56.
Erin Harrold gave the Pioneers a 7-4 advantage at 8:41.
After keeping possession for the 'Cats on a shot that sailed wide of the cage and over the end line, Pavuk – from way behind the net – found Makayla Keys (Fairport, N.Y.) in front for a goal that once again made it a two-goal game, 7-5, at 6:48.
UNH won the ensuing draw control but Pavuk fired a shot wide and the Pioneers gained possession.
The 'Cats got the ball back with five minutes remaining and earned a free position at 4:47, but Connerty's shot was stopped by Martin.
Clara Pavuk (York, Maine) caused a turnover and corralled the ground ball to give possession back to New Hampshire at 3:34.
The Wildcats called time out 15 seconds later, but turned the ball over with 2:44 remaining.
Thomas made a save on Maggie Araneo's shot at 1:25, but the Pioneers retained possession and held the ball until a shot clock violation with eight seconds to play.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Thomas made 10+ saves for the fourth time in six games.
She entered the game ranked No. 8 in the nation in saves per game (11.40) and 12^th in saves.
Paige Kenny (Kensington, Md.) led all players with three caused turnovers.
Carly Ross (Annapolis, Md.) finished with two caused turnovers and a ground ball.
Clara Pavuk led the 'Cats with two draw controls. She was also credited with a ground ball and one caused turnover.
Connerty recorded her third consecutive multiple-point game and fourth of the season.
Rose Pavuk has 10 points the past two games; she has three multi-point games this season.
Keys extended her goal streak to three games.

GAME NOTEBOOK

Sacred Heart finished with the edge in shots (25-16), shots on goal (17-11), ground balls (18-9) and draw controls (11-5).
UNH was successful on 17 of 20 clear attempts while the Pioneers were 17-for-19.
The Wildcats did not score on five free-position shots while SHU was 1-for-3.
The 'Cats had 15 turnovers and the Pioneers had 13.

SERIES NOTEBOOK