CCSU Drops Road Game at Sacred Heart

Sophomore midfielder Ashley Mara scored two goals, while Central Connecticut State University dropped an 18-3 road decision at Sacred Heart on Friday. Blue Devils' leading scorer freshman Betsy Vendel added two assists in the defeat as CCSU falls to 2-3 on the season. Central will next stay on the road to challenge Quinnipiac on Sunday March 21 at 12:00 p.m.

It was Sacred Heart that got on the board first, but CCSU kept things close early. The Pioneers' Carissa Hauser scored the first of her five goals on the day just over one and a half minutes into the game. It was Mara that countered for the Blue Devils, finishing off of an assist from freshman Ali Roche to tie the game at 1-1 at the 25:52 mark.

The two teams alternated goals once again SHU's Cori Horelik scored unassisted before Central tied the game at two goals a piece. At the 21:52 mark in the first half, CCSU held onto its last tie of the game when freshman Mackenzy Ryan scored off of one of Vendel's two assists.

The Pioneers scored the next five goals before Mara finished the half with her fifth goal of the season in the final minute of the first half. Vendel again was on the other end of the play, tallying her fifth helper of the season.

Sacred Heart held Central scoreless in the second period, while recording 11 more goals to finish with the 18-3 victory. The Pioneers held significant advantages over the Blue Devils in shots, turnovers, clears and free position shots, but CCSU held its own in ground balls and draw controls. Central tallied 21 ground balls to 25 for Sacred Heart, and finished with 10 draw controls as SHU tallied 13.

Roche led the Blue Devils with four ground balls, while Roche, Vendel and Ryan each tallied two draw controls to lead CCSU in the category. Sophomore Erin DeLancey finished with six saves in the goal for Central.