THE BASICS:

Score: Merrimack 3, Holy Cross 2

Records: Holy Cross (0-1-0); Merrimack (1-0-0)

Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)

Date: Friday, Oct. 10, 2014

Time: 7:05 p.m.

The Lead: Merrimack's Justin Mansfield netted the game winner at 13:16 in the third period as the Holy Cross men's hockey team fell to Hockey East opponent Merrimack 3-2 in the season opener for both teams at the Hart Center on Friday night. With his second save of the game at 1:02 in the first period, senior captain and goalie Matt Ginn (Lindsay, Ontario) broke the Holy Cross Division I career saves record.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ginn recorded his second save of the game at 1:02 in the first period, breaking the Holy Cross Division I career saves record.
• At 14:26 in the first period Merrimack's Brett Seney found the back of the net inside the right post off assists from Mathieu Tibbet and Dan Kolomatis.
• After a turnover by Holy Cross with thirty seconds to go in the first period, Merrimack's Brian Christie recovered the puck and scored an unassisted goal to increase the Warriors' lead to 2-0.
• The Crusaders had two power play opportunities in the first period but were not able to capitalize on the man advantage. The period ended with a score of Merrimack 2 Holy Cross 0.
• The Crusader offense returned energized to begin the second period and created multiple attacking opportunities. Later in the period, Ginn and the rest of the Holy Cross defense, maintained their composure and held off an aggressive Merrimack power play.
• A Holy Cross goal by sophomore Brett McKinnon (Kelowna, British Columbia), assisted by junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) and sophomore Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) at 17:04 in the second period brought the Crusaders back within one to end the period.
• At 6:24 in the third period Holy Cross' junior captain Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.)  scored the equalizer after receiving the puck from sophomore teammate Logan Smith (Littleton, Colo.). Holy Cross had just successfully killed another Merrimack power play.
• Merrimack's Mansfield muscled in the game winning goal at 13:16 in the third period with the assist coming from Hampus Gustafsson and Jonathon Lashyn.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Ginn recorded 32 saves for the Crusaders while Rasmus Tirronen stopped 23 for the Warriors.
• Holy Cross and Merrimack each went 0-4 on the power play.
• The Crusaders were outshot by Merrimack 35-25 but held the edge in faceoffs won 41-30.                                                                                                                     

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Ginn entered the game with 2,699 career saves which are the most by any current goalie in the nation. His 32 saves in the season opener against Merrimack propelled him past the Holy Cross Division I career saves record previously held by Tony Quesada (2002-2006) with 2,700. Paul Pijanowski (1984-1987) holds the school's all-time record with 2,915 saves. Last year, Ginn finished the season with 1,076 saves becoming the first Holy Cross goalie to ever make more than 1,000 saves for a season.
• This was the first time that Holy Cross has ever hosted a Hockey East school in the first game of the season.
• Merrimack's Seney scored the first goal of his collegiate career while Tibbet registered his first collegiate assist.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders will continue the home-and-home series with Merrimack on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they travel to North Andover, Mass., to take on the Warriors at Lawler Rink at 7:00 p.m.

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.