THE BASICS:
Score: Holy Cross 3, AIC 2
Records: Holy Cross (1-2-1, 1-0-1 Atlantic Hockey); AIC (0-2-1, 0-1-1 Atlantic Hockey)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014
Time: 7:05 p.m.
The Lead: Holy Cross sophomore Brett McKinnon (Kelowna, British Columbia) scored the game winner at 3:02 in the third period as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated Atlantic Hockey opponent American International 3-2 in the second game of the weekend series at the Hart Center on Saturday night.  The Crusaders took three points from the weekend series as they tied AIC 2-2 on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Despite outshooting the Yellow Jackets 18-3, the Crusaders finished the first period down 1-0 with a goal at the 4:41 mark from AIC's David Gandara assisted by Johno May.
• Holy Cross had one power play opportunity at 15:21 in the first period but could not capitalize on the man advantage.
• The Crusaders dominated the first period with 10 different players challenging AIC goalie Hunter Leisner, but they were not able to find the back of the net.
• Holy Cross was tested defensively less than a minute into the second period due to a power play for AIC but the Purple and White were able to hold the Yellow Jackets scoreless.
• The Crusader attack responded just over three minutes later with a goal from junior Sean Gustin (Stoneham, Mass.) at 4:31 off the rebound from a shot by freshman T.J. Moore (Edina, Minn.) to even the score at 1-1. This sequence marked the first goal of the season for Gustin and first collegiate point for Moore.
• Winning 15 face offs in the second period, Holy Cross maintained the pressure leading to a Crusader power play goal by junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) with a slap shot from the blue line off the assist from sophomore Logan Smith (Littleton, Colo.) and junior captain Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.) at 14:25.
• Holy Cross stayed composed defensively with less than two minutes to go in the second period as AIC's Dominic Racobaldo fired three shots directly on Holy Cross goalie Matt Ginn (Lindsay, Ontario) who made the saves. Vidal also had a clutch blocked shot to bolster the Crusader defense.
• AIC began the third period with a man advantage and quickly capitalized with a goal from Chris Porter assisted by Bryant Christian and Matt Cassidy bringing the score to 2-2.
• McKinnon responded immediately with a slap shot goal from the top of the attacking zone assisted by Vidal to give the Crusaders a 3-2 lead over AIC.
• With just over a minute to play in the contest AIC went with an empty net but the Crusader defense held strong and earned its first victory of the season with a score of 3-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross outshot AIC 34-24.
• The Crusaders went 1-3 on the power play while the Yellow Jackets went 1-2.
• Holy Cross more than doubled AIC in face offs won with a mark of 37-17.
• Ginn made 15 of his 22 saves in the third period. Leisner made 31 saves for the Yellow Jackets.                                                                                                                           

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tonight's win over AIC is the first Crusader victory under Head Coach David Berard.
• Gustin and Bolton both scored their first goals of the season.
• Moore tallied his first career assist.
• With his second career game- winning goal, McKinnon leads the team with two goals on the season.
• Vidal earned two assists on the night tying him for the team lead with three assists on the season.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders will return to action when they take on Big Ten opponent Penn State on Friday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 26, when they travel to University Park, Pa., to take on the Nittany Lions at Pegula Ice Arena at 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. respectively.

BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON:

• To purchase tickets for the 2014-2015 Holy Cross men's hockey season go to goholycross.com/tickets or call (508) 793-2573.

KEEP CONNECTED:

• There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross men's hockey team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCHockey and on Facebook. You can also get the latest news and results on the team sent directly to your e-mail. To sign up for e-mail alerts go here: http://www.goholycross.com/list-signup.