Sacred Heart University’s (SHU) football team is stepping into a new conference and onto a new field this season. The Pioneers are now officially a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and will debut their new Sikorsky Credit Union Field soon.
Contributed by Reese D’Alessandro
The team lost their first game 31-24 to Monmouth University on Sept. 5. With 8 minutes and 8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers tied up the game at 24. The Hawks drove down to take back the lead 31-24 and ultimately held off SHU.
“Don’t leave it in the hands of a referee or a replay review, win the game outright and leave no doubt,” said Head Coach Mark Nofri. “When the game is on the line, you have to execute and finish.”
During the game, the team had sophomore running back Mitchell Summers go down with an injury. Summer’s previous season rushed for over 1,000 yards, piling on 12 touchdowns.
“Losing Mitch was tough, but it was great to see other guys step up when their number was called,” said junior quarterback and captain Poochie Snyder. “That’s the message we take away from this game and carry with us for the rest of the season. There’s going to be adversity, but we have to use it in a positive way.”
They then lost 37-10 to the University of Massachusetts on Sept. 12. The Pioneers look to rebound from these early struggles behind the momentum of a brand-new field and conference.
“It was exciting because it felt like a fresh start for the program,” said graduate student and captain Curtis Whiting. “Seeing the new turf completed made everything feel real, especially as we entered the CAA. We’re grateful for the investment in the program, and now it’s on us as players to go out there, represent Sacred Heart the right way and make the most of the opportunity.”
The team looks forward to competing in the CAA.
“Last year, we were playing for pride and for each other, but now there’s a championship attached to what we’re doing every week, and that makes us go even harder,” said Whiting. “It gives us something we can chase together, and we’re excited about that opportunity.”
By the end of the season the Pioneers want to be known as hard workers.
“I want them to respect how hard we play and how together we are. Whether we’re winning or facing adversity, I want teams to know that Sacred Heart is never going to quit,” said Whiting. “We want to be known as a physical, disciplined and connected football team that makes you earn everything against us.”
The team will debut the brand-new Sikorsky Credit Union Field on Sept. 26 during Family Weekend.
“Our first home game is against the University of New Hampshire, and I expect our team to be fired up to finally be back home,” said Nofri. “They’ll be excited to play in front of what should be a huge Family Weekend crowd and have that home-field energy behind them.”
Snyder expects that same intensity when the Pioneers run out onto their new turf.
“I expect our team to give the kind of effort—tough, accountable, hard-working, do-whatever-it-takes-to-win attitude—that shows our fans their support is warranted,” said Snyder.
The Pioneers will travel to Elon University on Sept. 19 for their third game of the season.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
