SHELTON, Conn. – It was a senior send-off for Post University Women's Ice Hockey before their final home game of the season at the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, Connecticut as the Eagles honored senior forwards Jade Giesbrecht and Holly Kubichek as well as senior goalie Grace Glasrud before their game against Sacred Heart University. However, a high-speed battle between both sides would end in defeat for Post who were unable to get one in the back of the net, dropping the matchup, 2-0.

THE BASICS

Post University 0, Sacred Heart University 2

Post University (7-25-1, 7-19-1 NEWHA)

Sacred Heart University (14-19-2, 13-12-2 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED  
A quick-moving first period saw neither team get on the scoreboard through the first 20 minutes of action but also saw the visitors hold a hefty advantage in terms of offense. Glasrud was up to the challenge, stopping all 18 shots she faced while the Pioneers fired 31 in her direction, eight of which were blocked by the Post defense. The Eagles would only manufacture eight total shots and five on goal against sophomore goalie Jillian Petruno, all of which would be corralled. In the final minute, junior forward Hannah Luckman would have a breakaway opportunity against Petruno, but fired it low into her pads which kept the game scoreless.

Continuing to pound the Eagles in the offensive zone, the Pioneers held a large 28-11 margin in the second period in total shots while the shots on goal margin sat at just 11-5. Both sides would get their crack at the power play in the frame with neither being able to convert and a two-on-one opportunity by freshman forward Macy Peterson and sophomore forward Tymmarie Grom would be shut down by Petruno when Grom took the shot from the left side.

The lone goal of the second would come off the stick of freshman forward Cassie Nevers with 12:29 left when freshman forward Grayson Limke got to a loose puck and threw it to graduate forward Sophie Lupone who skated around the back of the net. With a defender on her, Lupone found a wide-open Nevers to the right side of Glasrud and she would bury the point-blank shot to give Sacred Heart a 1-0 lead.

The Pioneers would pad their lead in the third on a goal from Lupone following a turnover in the offensive zone by Post. Lupone would force a turnover and then throw the puck ahead to freshman forward Isabella Chaput whose shot was stopped by Glasrud. On the loose rebound, Lupone would jump on the puck and put it into the empty side of the net as Glasrud was trying to recover, making it a two-goal game in favor of Sacred Heart.
 
BY THE NUMBERS 

• Grace Glasrud made 42 saves on 44 attempts and is now two games away from tying the most career games played as a goalie at 61 while tying the all-time mark for most career starts and is now the all-time leader in goalie minutes
• Over the last eight games, Post University is 1-for-35 on the power-play while being unable to score on their last 33 power-play opportunities 
• Post University was outshot 85-30 overall and 44-18 in shots on goal – The Eagles were a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and have now only allowed one power-play goal in their last six games
• Jillian Petruno earned her fifth shutout of the season for Sacred Heart and second against Post after making all 18 saves

WHO'S NEXT
Post University takes on Sacred Heart University one last time to close out the 2023-24 regular season before the NEWHA Tournament which is set to get underway next weekend with a best-of-three quarterfinals.