PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior forward Stacey Hochkins (New Boston, Mich.) recorded her first hat trick of the season as the Holy Cross women's ice hockey team defeated Plymouth State 9-2 Friday night in Plymouth, N.H. With the win, Holy Cross improves to 7-2-0 overall (5-1-0 ECAC), while Plymouth State falls to 0-5-1 (0-5-1 ECAC).

Freshman Emily Sullivan (Arlington, Mass.) scored Holy Cross' only goal of the first period, when she netted her second goal of the season at the 12:26 mark. The Crusaders' offense came alive in the second period, with sophomore Caroline English (Dorchester, Mass.) and Hochkins combining on four goals. Junior Nicola Garat (Princeton, N.J.) scored Holy Cross' fifth goal of the period to give the Crusaders a 6-0 lead.

Senior Jocelyn Kratchmer (Watrous, Saskatchewan) scored Holy Cross' seventh goal at the 5:54 mark in the third period before Plymouth State's Allison Collins scored the Panther's first goal of the game just over a minute later. Senior Amy Pfund (Tenafly, N.J.) scored her first goal of the season at the 7:40 mark of the third period and Hochkins netted her fourth goal of the game two minutes later to give Holy Cross a 9-1 lead. Plymouth State scored the final goal of the game to make the final score 9-2 in favor of the Crusaders.

Holy Cross senior goaltender Monique Gallant (Antigonish, Nova Scotia) earned her fourth win of the season, allowing no goals in two periods of action. Senior Lindsay Atkinson (Westbank, British Columbia) finished out the final period for the Crusaders, allowing two goals and recording four saves. Plymouth State's Ali Ponte and Nicole Crandle combined to allow nine goals and record 48 saves. Holy Cross outshot the Panthers 57-17 and went 2-4 on the power play.

Holy Cross continues action away from Worcester, traveling to Southern Maine on Saturday, Dec. 4 for a 1:00 p.m. game.