Pictured Above: Junior captain Maria Nunez (Credit: Dave Saffran)
 
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Fairfield, CT – After tying the score at 1-1 in the 17th minute of the first half, the Sacred Heart University Pioneers scored a pair of second-half goals which proved to be the difference as the Seahawks fell 3-1 on Friday afternoon.
 
With the loss, Wagner falls to 2-11 on the season and 1-4 in Northeast Conference (NEC) action while the Pioneers improve to 3-11 and 2-3 in league play.
 
Sacred Heart got on the board first in the 10th minute as Taylor Casale controlled the ball the top of the box after emerging from a scramble in front and booted a low shot to the near post that gave the Pioneers the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Wagner found the equalizer in the 17th minute as junior captain, Maria Nunez, capitalized off the rebound in tying the score at 1-1. Sophomore Madison Starr blasted a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar but Nunez, alertly, was able to collect the loose ball and fire a shot towards the near post.
 
For Nunez, it marked her team-leading third goal of the season and the sixth of her career. For Starr, the helper was her first collegiate assist.
 
The visitors had a chance to take the lead in the 32nd minute as sophomore Mya Donnelly found herself on a breakaway chance but SHU's goalkeeper, Nicole Sambuco, came out of the net and challenged Donnelly and was able to make the save.
 
The Seahawks had two shots before the half at capturing the lead. The first, in the 37', sophomore Le'la Allen's header was turned aside by Sambuco. With just four seconds showing on the game clock, junior Rorie St. Lawrence fired a shot that was denied by Sambuco as both teams went into the intermission knotted at 1-1.
 
For the first half, Wagner outshot Sacred Heart, 10-6 while both teams had a corner kick apiece.
 
As play resumed for the second half, Sacred Heart controlled much of the second half. The Pioneers nearly put the home team ahead in the 57th minute as Melanie DaSilva booted a ball that was stopped by senior goalkeeper, Katie Viscardi, in keeping the match deadlocked at a goal apiece.
 
In the 73rd, Sacred Heart was able to break through for the go-ahead goal. Alyssa Hyland sent a corner kick into the box that Alex Mesropyan headed to Sara da Silva for tiebreaking goal.
 
In just a three minute span, SHU stuck again for an insurance tally, in upping its lead to 3-1, as Hannah Busch played a ball from the near sideline across the box that found the foot of Jill Klem as Klem was able to head the ball to the inside far post.
 
For the game, Viscardi was credited with five saves, upping the native of Hazlet, NJ career total to 178 career saves. Reigning NEC Player & Rookie of the Week, Luisa Barone, led the team with three shots while Donnelly and Autumn Clark each had two. Barone and Donnelly's chances found its way on target.
 
Wagner returns home on Sunday, October 14, as the Seahawks will welcome Fairleigh Dickinson at 1:00 p.m. from Hameline Field.
 
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