THE BASICS
Score: Holy Cross 5, Sacred Heart 0 
Records: Holy Cross (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC); Sacred Heart (0-2-0)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)
Time: 2:05 p.m. 
The Lead:  Freshman Lauren Abbenante (Cranston, R.I.) scored twice as the Crusaders blanked Sacred Heart, 5-0,  in the second game of the home series on Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center in non-conference women's hockey action. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Crusaders controlled the puck early on as they took the 1-0 lead (17:56) in the first period on a shot from Abbenante, assisted by junior captain Taylor McGee (Pearl River, N.Y.) that went out of the reach of Sacred Heart goalie Amanda Fontaine. 
• Sacred Heart had three shots in the first period, but senior goalie Krista Manzanares (Rancho Santa Margarita, Cali.) was there to make the stops. 
• Nearly seven minutes into the second period, senior Nicole Giannino (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored her second goal of the season on a rebound pass from junior Megan Meskill (Minneapolis, Minn.) to give the Crusaders the 2-0 lead (13:17). 
• Holy Cross struck again several minutes later on a Sacred Heart power play when freshman Kara Violette (Biddeford, Maine) handed a pass off to sophomore Izzy Bagi (Branford, Conn.) as the Crusaders went up 3-0 (16:33). 
• Sacred Heart went on their second power play and the Crusaders quickly took advantage. On a pass from Violette, freshman Emily Lissner (Woburn, Mass.) tallied a shorthanded goal, adding onto the Holy Cross lead, 4-0 (5:40). 
• With two minutes remaining in regulation and another Sacred Heart power play, Abbenante came around from behind the net to score her second goal of the game to extend the lead 5-0 (1:04). 
• Manzanares silenced the Sacred Heart sticks as the clock wound down to zero, sealing the Crusaders 5-0 victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Manzanares had eight saves for the Crusaders, while Fontaine had 46 saves for the Pioneers.
• Holy Cross held the advantage in shots on goal (51-8) and face-offs (40-16).
• The Crusaders led in power play opportunities as well at 2-5, while the Pioneers were 0-2. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE 

• Abbenante's two goals were the first of her career. 
• Violette now leads the team in assists for four.
• Manzanares recorded her eleventh career shutout and earned her first victory of the season.
• Holy Cross is now 18-12-1 in the all-time series against the Pioneers and extended their winning streak to nine games. 

UP NEXT 

• The Crusaders return to the ice as they travel to Salve Regina for their first ECAC East matchup at 7:30 p.m. 

KEEP CONNECTED 

• There are numerous ways you can stay connected with the Holy Cross women's hockey team. Follow Holy Cross Athletics on Twitter @GoHolyCross as well as the women's hockey team @HCrossWHockey and on Facebook. 
• You can also get all the latest news and results on the Holy Cross women's hockey team sent directly to your e-mail athttp://www.goholycross.com/list-signup.