The Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics has made attendance at its NCAA Division I home games during the 2008-09 seasons even more affordable for local families. In recognition of the tight budgets that many Connecticut residents are facing these days, children 14 and under will be admitted free to all games throughout the coming seasons.

The decision continues the Sacred Heart mission to make the University a comfortable and affordable place for families to go. Earlier this year, Sacred Heart University announced a decision to offer free tuition to full-time undergraduate students from Fairfield County high schools.

“We want area parents and family care providers to know that Sacred Heart athletic contests are affordable, safe and enjoyable places for families to gather and enjoy quality time with each other,” said SHU Associate Director for External Relations, Mark Adzigian. “In the past, we have hosted many youth groups, birthday parties and sponsored Take a Kid to the Game promotions. Now there’s no reason why every SHU game can’t be just like that.”

The football season opens at home on August 30 and a family of five can attend the game on Campus Field for as little as $16 – the price of two adult tickets. The Pioneers have six home games during the 2008 season.

A similar policy will hold for all basketball and hockey games during the 2008-09 season, as well as men’s lacrosse games in the spring of 2009. All general admission adult tickets for those sports will also be $8, with the exception of $10 for men’s basketball.

“The University is a very proud member of both the local and regional communities. By offering these programs, focusing positively on both academics and athletics, we are able to be an inclusive and contributing neighbor in our surrounding communities and show how important it is to enjoy family time together, especially during challenging economic times,” Adzigian concluded.

To check the home schedules for each team and order tickets online visit SacredHeartPioneers.com.

EAST HARTFORD - Team Connecticut needed a spark late in the second quarter of the 10th -annual Governors’ Cup, and it came from a pair of Stratford kids.

With the game tied at 7, Stratford grad Octavias McKoy returned a kickoff 64 years, and two plays later, Bunnell receiver Michael Easley caught a 34-yard pass in the corner of the end zone to regain the lead.

And Connecticut would not look back, as it rolled to a 31-10 win over neighboring Rhode Island at Rentschler Field.

McKoy, who will play at Garden City Community College, and Easley, who is heading to Central Connecticut, were not the only stars from Fairfield County to shine.

• Offensive guards Kyle Duncan (New Canaan) and Dewayne Guscott helped anchor an offensive line that did not allow a sack, and paved the way for a phenomenal rushing attack led by Sacred Heart University-bound Tim McNeil (Ledyard).
• Mike Escobar (Danbury) had a few defended passes, and one coach mentioned that the Southern Connecticut-bound corner was arguably the top defensive player for Connecticut.
• Though he doesn’t live in Fairfield County (but plays for an SWC team), Pomperaug lineman Matt Walker may have been the defensive star of the game. He forced a fumble that led to Shelton’s Geoff Schultz’s 20-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and recovered a fumble that led to Connecticut’s opening score.

Bridgeport Central’s Trevardo Williams started for Connecticut as a defensive end on the field he will be playing on regularly starting in 2009. Williams has signed a letter of intent to play for UConn, but will do a year at Canterbury School first.

“It’s just great to be a part of this win,” Williams said. “I had some great teammates, some great coaches, and they all deserve some credit. I’m looking forward to the chance to play here again.”

Escobar played sparingly on defense as a senior, since he moved to the Hatters’ starting quarterback role, but is slated to play defense at Southern.

“I feel these two weeks (of practice) really helped me get ready for college ball,” Escobar. “Getting to play in this game will hopefully give me an advantage at Southern.”

And for Duncan, who will play at Division III Bowdoin, it was a chance to play in a Division I facility.

“I’m not going to get a chance to play in a stadium like this,” Duncan said. “I’m glad I got to, and that we beat up on Rhode Island.”

Other locals on the Connecticut roster included:

• Josh Maignon, a Stamford receiver who will be teammates with Guscott at Lackawanna College.
• Jonathan Jackson, Bunnell, who has a slight MCL injury that kept him sidelined. He will be a part of New Haven’s revived team in 2009.
• Andrew Mastrioni, Pomperaug, who will play at Western New England
• Torrey Mack, Stratford, the Virginia-bound star who saw a few snaps at running back.
• Mike Mainiero, Shelton, who anchored the Connecticut defensive line. He will attend Curry.
• Timothy Reece, Central, a late edition to the roster who will play at American International.

See photos from the 2008 Governors’ Cup here.

Sacred Heart University student-athlete Lisa Moray of Hopewell Junction, NY passed away early Wednesday morning as the result of an auto accident near her home in Dutchess County, NY. Lisa, a senior at Sacred Heart, was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team.

A wake service and calling hours will be held on Thursday and Friday at McHoul Funeral Home in Hopewell Junction with a funeral mass on Saturday morning at St. Columbia Church.

“This was a tragic ending to a very promising life of someone who we cared about a great deal,” said Director of Athletics, Don Cook. “Our sympathies and prayers go out to her family, her parents Donna and Walter, and her sisters, Sherry, Lori and Debi, at this difficult time in their lives.”

Moray ended her four-year Sacred Heart career this past March helping to guide the Pioneers to yet another winning season and what was their ninth-straight appearance in the Northeast Conference Tournament. She ended her career having appeared in 112 games while finishing with 160 career three-point field goals, a mark that leaves her third on the all-time list at Sacred Heart.

As a sophomore during the 2005-06 season, she was a key member of a Pioneer squad that finished with a school record 26 wins and claimed the university’s first-ever Northeast Conference championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament. During her junior campaign, Moray set a new school record for three-point makes in a season burying 69 on the year to lead the Pioneers to their second-straight NEC regular season title. She also went on to lead the NEC in assist to turnover ratio that year, handing out a career-best 106 assists.

Calling Hours and Funeral Information:
Wake Calling Hours: Thursday 7-9pm and Friday 2-4pm and 7-9 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY (phone # 845-221-2000).

Funeral Mass: Saturday 10:00am at St. Columbia Church, 837 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY (phone # 845-227-8380).

The Sacred Heart track & field teams won five individual titles over the weekend at the 2008 New England Championships, with seniors Arman Dixon (Beacon, NY) and Marsha Locke (Danbury) taking home a pair each. For the third-straight year the Pioneer men improved on their best-ever finish at the event this year coming home third overall. The women took fifth overall.

Dixon continued his stellar senior season with New England titles in the 200 meters and long jump. Dixon turned in his fastest time of the season in the event, clicking in at a NCAA Regional qualifying time of 20.86 to dust the field in the 200 and come up with the win. His leap of 23′10″ (7.26m) won him the long jump title as well. Dixon will also compete in the long jump as well as the 400 meters at the NCAA Regional Championships.

Locke successfully defended her New England shot put title by besting the field by over two feet. Her throw of 48′11.75″ (14.93) won the event and met the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. Locke already qualified for the NCAA Regional meet with her winning throw at the NEC Championship. Locke picked up her third career New England title by winning the javelin with a throw of 134′11″ (41.12m). Locke also picked up points by finishing fourth in the discus with a throw of 136′10″ (41.72m).

Sophomore Brittany Dexter (Ballston Lake, NY) defended her New England title in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5′8.75″ (1.75m) to meet the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. Dexter won the event for the second-straight year as well at the NEC Championship meet a week ago with a height of 5′7″.

Senior Scott Giordano (Hamden) picked up points by finishing fourth in the 200 meters with a 21.83 second clocking. Senior Michael Barrett (Islip Terrace, NY) scored with a sixth-place finish in the 100 meter dash finishing in 11.25 seconds. Freshman Peter Conti (Mansfield, MA) picked up points in his first New England meet showing by taking fourth in the 110 meter hurdles. Conti crossed the finish line in 14.93 seconds.

Junior John Kenworthy (Gloversville, NY) finished fifth in the 3000 meter steeplechase, shaving two seconds off his time at last week’s NEC Championships with a 9:27.76 clocking. Sophomore Brett Luongo (North Attleboro, MA) took fifth in the javelin with a throw of 188′10″ (57.55m).

The SHU trio of sophomore Keith Rowe (Taunton, MA), junior Brian Germain (Wallingford) and junior Thomas Hyatt (Hopewell Junction, NY) finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the decathlon. Rowe racked up 6,134 points to finish 152 points off the top-spot. Rowe won the 100 meter dash (11.46), the 110 meter hurdles (15.45) and the long jump (22′0.75″) in the decathlon. Germain won the discus throw (125′9″) and the javelin (165′8″) while Hyatt took the pole vault (13′9.25″).

Senior Melissa Kostan (Salem, NY) took second in the heptathlon with 4,831 points. She finished second in the 200 meters (25.16), the 100 meter hurdles (15.04) and the long jump (17′7.50″) and third in the high jump (5′5″) and the javelin (98′9″).

Senior Christine Yakubec (Greenwich, NY) took third in the discus with a throw of 140′1″ (42.69m) with fellow senior Sarah Hickman (Amherst, MA) finishing sixth throwing 135′3″ (41.23m). Junior Sarana Hyatt (St. Albans, NY) took sixth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:04.70) and eighth in the long jump (17′7.00″). Senior Lenahndem Tankeng (Yonkers, NY) finished eighth in the hammer throw (154′6″).

The Pioneers will compete at the ECAC and IC4A Championships this weekend at Princeton University.