Sacred Heart Captures First-Ever MAAC Championship in Snow-Filled Thriller

Jonathan Turner
4 days ago
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

BUFFALO, NY (Nov. 9, 2025) – The Sacred Heart University women’s soccer team made history Sunday afternoon, defeating Canisius 4–3 in penalty kicks to capture the program’s first-ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship.

The fourth-seeded Pioneers and third-seeded Golden Griffins battled through regulation and two overtime periods in blizzard-like conditions before Sacred Heart lifted the trophy in dramatic fashion.

The Hero in Net

Junior goalkeeper Kyran Thievon turned in a championship performance, making three saves during regulation and three more in the decisive shootout. Her clutch effort earned her MAAC Tournament MVP honors — a fitting cap to a stellar postseason where she allowed just one goal and totaled 13 saves.

Joining Thievon on the All-MAAC Tournament Team were Morgan Bovardi, Shea Kelleher, and Riley Pettigrew, each playing key roles throughout the Pioneers’ tournament run.

Penalty Kick Drama

In a shootout filled with tension, Sacred Heart stayed composed under pressure. Emily Hood, Martyna Krzysztopik, Morgan Bovardi, and Theanna Burnett all converted their attempts.

With the score tied 3–3 after five rounds, Burnett buried her shot to give SHU the advantage. Thievon then sealed the victory with a diving save to her right on Canisius’ final attempt, sending the Pioneers into a frenzy as snow fell across the Demske Sports Complex.

Battle in the Blizzard

The championship was as much about endurance as execution. The first half featured heavy rain and biting wind, but Sacred Heart’s back line, anchored by Burnett and Quinn Pollack, held firm to keep Canisius scoreless.

When the weather turned to thick snowfall in the second half, visibility dropped and offensive chances became rare. Still, Thievon’s steady play and Sacred Heart’s composure kept the Pioneers in control.

Despite several late chances from both sides in overtime, neither team could find a breakthrough — setting up the storybook ending in penalties.

Tournament Highlights

All-MAAC Tournament Team:

Morgan Bovardi – 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 PK goal, 7 shots
Shea Kelleher – 2 assists, 5 shots
Riley Pettigrew – 2 goals
Kyran Thievon – 13 saves, 1 GA, game-winning PK save (MVP)

By the Numbers

Final Score: Sacred Heart 0, Canisius 0 (Sacred Heart wins 4–3 in PKs)
Shots: Canisius 9, Sacred Heart 6
Corner Kicks: Sacred Heart 8, Canisius 5
Saves: Thievon (SHU) 3 | Tseros (CAN) 3

What’s Next

With the championship win, Sacred Heart secures the MAAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament — marking the program’s first-ever NCAA appearance. The Pioneers will learn their opponent during Monday’s NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Selection Show at 4 p.m. ET, streamed live on NCAA.com.