Sacred Heart vs Siena (W)
- January 18, 2020
- Milford, Connecticut
Courtesy: Sacred Heart Athletics
MILFORD, Conn.– The Sacred Heart University Swimming and Diving team defeated Siena this afternoon by final score of 170-126 as the team honored seniors Victoria Catizone, Bryana Cielo, Shanna Haddow, Sarah Hensal, Julia Pusateri, Nikole Rudis, and Lauren Somers. The Pioneers will return to action Saturday Jan. 25 when the team competes at Monmouth. The meet begins at 1:00 p.m.
This is the second year in a row the Pioneers have not lost any of the team’s home meets in a single season as SHU took two home meets this year and seven from a year ago.
Senior Lauren Somers won all four of her events taking first in the 200 Free with a time of 1:55.10. Then touching the wall for first in the 50 Free with a time of 25.14 as well as first in the 100 Free with a time of 53.34. She was also the anchor of the 400 Free relay.
First-year Casey Barrett had a big day winning all four of her events. She was the fastest backstroke leg of the winning 200 Medley relay. She won the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:01.25 while her teammates Kelly Bartnett and Taylor Eck touched the wall with times of 1:01.99 and 1:03.99 going 2nd and 3rd respectively. Barrett also won the 200 Backstroke with a career best time of 2:12.41 and clinched the 200 IM with a time of 2:15.73.
Junior Emily Peter won three events, two as a member of the 200 Medley Relay with Barrett, Julia Pusateri and Nicole Tingley and the 400 Medley Relay with Tingley, Bartnett and Somers. Peter won the 100 Butterfly by over a second with a time a time 59.70. Nicole Tingley also won three events having the fastest 50 free split going with a time of 24.91. She also lead off the winning 400 free relay with a time of 56.27. Tingley won the 200 Butterfly with a 2:12.87 and came in second in the 100 Free behind teammate Somers in the 100 Free with a time of 55.81.
Fiona Maxwell won the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:32.77. She also had a season best in the 100 Breast where she placed third with a time of 1:11.93 behind teammate Julia Pusateri who hd a time of 1:11.70.
On the Boards, sophomore Megan McLaughlin won the 1 Meter diving with her season best score of 212.70. McLaughlin came in second on 1m five dive voluntary list as well.
Courtesy: Siena Athletics
MILFORD, CT – Siena Swimming & Diving took the pool for action for the second straight week to begin its 2020 campaign Saturday morning. The Saints traveled to Southern Connecticut and fell, 170-126, to Sacred Heart at the McCann Natatorium.
Siena took home four event wins despite the loss, with freshman Reilly King leading the way with a pair of first place finishes. The Macungie, PA native Placed first in the 1000-yard freestyle (11:02.46) by nearly eight seconds, while also winning the 500-yard freestyle (5:20.36) by under a second later in the meet.
King was joined by junior Shannon Leary in capturing an individual in the pool, with Leary doing so in the 100-yard backstroke. Freshman Lydia DeLano took home one of the two one-meter diving titles on the day, putting up a score of 168.00 to best three Pioneer divers in the first of two diving events of the day.
Additionally, three different swimmers in the Green and Gold record personal bests in the meet, which was moved up one hour due to snowy conditions expected in the area. A pair of freshman swimmers did so during the 50-yard freestyle, with Elisabeth Balicanta swimming a 26.50 and Sydney Murinka clocking a 28.26. Classmate Lauren Ostrander put up a career mark in the 500 free with a 5:20.77.
With the loss, Siena drops to 14-1 against Sacred Heart all-time, with the Pioneers picking up their first win in the series, which dated back to Siena’s inaugural campaign in 1999.
The Saints will continue action during the Winter 2020 season Next Saturday, with the team traveling to Jersey City, New Jersey for tri-meet action. Siena will face off against MAAC foe Saint Peter’s and Saint Francis Brooklyn on the Peacocks’ campus, with the meet set for a 2 PM start time.
