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Fairfield, CT -- The top-seeded Pioneers showed some heart on Saturday, and as a result, Sacred Heart claimed the coveted 2023 Northeast Conference (NEC) women's lacrosse title.

Trailing by three heading into the final quarter, the Pioneers ripped off four-unanswered scores to stun the second-seeded Wagner Seahawks and add another feather to their cap that already included an undefeated NEC slate and the program's first conference regular-season title since 2012.

NEC All-Rookie Team honoree Maggie Araneo scored the game-winning goal with just 15 seconds left to close the book on a comeback victory as the Pios secured their fifth NEC Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a thrilling, 7-6 come-from-behind triumph on their home turf.

A warm and beautiful blue-skied spring afternoon in Fairfield, CT set the stage for the NEC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, and for the fifth straight year, it was the top-two seeds facing off for the chance to add another trophy to the program’s cabinet. 

The opening quarter was a defensive battle, with senior attacker Emma Kittredge (Baldwin Place, NY/Somers) providing the lone scoring of the stanza on a free-position attempt with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter. Kittredge then pushed the advantage to two goals after she connected with rookie Taylor Farace (Guilford, CT/Guilford High School) with 11:42 to go until intermission.

Though Sacred Heart jumped off to a quick start, Wagner chipped away at the deficit in the second quarter.Senior attacker Megan Greco (Sound Beach, NY/Rocky Point) quickly responded to Kittredge's second goal, as she fired home the Seahawks’ first score of the game from a Kelsey Scheidel (Islip, NY/Islip) assist. With 7:40 remaining in the first half, Greco converted on her second to knot up the score.

Wagner’s Greco was the catalyst for the squad’s confidence and control of the third quarter. The Seahawks kept the top-seeded hosts scoreless in the third and during that stretch, they extended their lead to three at 6-3.

With her third goal of the game, Greco put Wagner in front for the first time at 3-2 just 92 seconds after the halftime break. The Seahawks would continue to control the third quarter, as they struck two more times to take a 5-2 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Sacred Heart refused to go down easy, though. Lydia Werlau (Brewster, NY/North Salem), the 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year, sparked a massive momentum shift in favor of the Pioneers. 

After the two sides exchanged scores to the tune of a 6-3 Wagner lead, Werlau launched her only goal on the day to cut the lead to two with less than 10 minutes to go. The graduate student then notched her second assist of the Championship to set up sophomore Shae Insinga (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) and take all the air out of Wagner’s momentum in what became a one-goal game. With 3:03 remaining, Kittredge made it a brand new ball game with her third goal of the game to erupt the fans at Campus Field in Fairfield, CT. 

With the final minute ticking away, Sacred Heart defied the odds when Reinold drew a defender across the center of the goal and dumped a pass to rookie Araneo,  who fired the game-winner into the back of the net with 15 seconds on the clock. The heroic shot resulted in the Pioneers claiming their fourth NEC championship, and their first since 2010.

SHU sophomore goalkeeper Lisa Martin (Huntington Station, NY/Huntington) posted five saves in net for the Pios, while NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Lauren DiStefano (West Islip, NY/West Islip) recorded 15 saves for Wagner.

Sacred Heart will find out who their NCAA Tournament opponent is during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, May 7th at 9:00 pm on ESPNU.

NEC All-Tournament Team
Lydia Werlau, SHU (MVP)
Ellie Holt, SHU
Emma Kittredge, SHU
Claire McElhenny, SHU
Lauren DiStefano, WC
Megan Greco, WC
Aileen Hannon, WC
Mylie Norton, LIU
Catherine Robles, LIU
Chyler Espino, SFU
Lizzie Fisher, SFU