A Slow Start Turns Into a Thrilling Finish
The evening began with Maine drawing first blood, as Sandrine Brault opened the scoring at 8:27 of the first half. Her inaugural collegiate goal gave the Black Bears a 1‑0 lead that lingered through a tightly contested first period.
The Pioneers, however, refused to stay behind. With just over ten minutes remaining, Riley Pettigrew struck back, leveling the score after a precise pass from Lyndsey Laperie. The momentum shifted quickly, and Hannah Murphy completed the turnaround, slotting the winner with 9:02 left on the clock, assisted by Laperie and Elizabeth Kowlski.
Stat Sheet Highlights
Despite the late surge, Maine held a slight edge in set‑piece opportunities, finishing with a 4‑2 corner‑kick advantage. Sacred Heart outshot the Bears 10‑6, but Maine’s net‑minder Elena Barenberg kept the game alive with two crucial saves.
The victory lifted Sacred Heart to 3‑0 on the season, while Maine slipped to 1‑2. Both teams now turn their attention to the next showdown, with Maine scheduled to host Merrimack at the New Balance Soccer Complex on Thursday, August 27th at 7 p.m.