THE BASICS
Score: Holy Cross 3, St. Anselm 1
Records: Holy Cross (4-0-0, 2-0-0 ECAC East); St. Anselm (4-1-0, 2-1-0 ECAC East)
Location: Hart Center (Worcester, Mass.)
The Lead: Senior Nicole Giannino (Bay Shore, N.Y.) scored two goals as classmate Rachel Miller (Jackson, Mich.) netted one as the Holy Cross women's hockey team defeated St. Anselm 3-1 in ECAC East women's hockey action on Friday night. This is the first time the Crusaders have defeated the Hawks since 2011.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• St. Anselm got onto the board first late in the first period when the Hawks scored on a power play. Franny Nicholson found Tiffany Herron open, as Herron sent the puck to Kaitlin Spillane, who launched the puck past the reach of senior goalie Krista Manzanares (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), putting the Hawks up 1-0 (15:36).
• Holy Cross answered 11 minutes into the second period when sophomore Izzy Bagi (Branford, Conn.) gathered the puck from underneath a defender and found Giannino in front of the net where she then whipped the puck underneath sophomore goalie Hannah Synnott at 10:16 to tie the game at 1-1.
• The Crusaders opened up the third period with a bang as Miller found a pass from freshman Lauren Abbenante (Cranston, R.I.) down the middle, and rocketed a wristshot into the lower right corner of the net past Synnott, putting Holy Cross up 2-1 (:39).
• Late into the third period, Holy Cross continued its momentum as Giannino tallied her second goal of the game when she found the back of the net on a power play. The goal was assisted by Miller as the Crusaders went up two by a score of 3-1 (15:46).
• St. Anselm outshot Holy Cross 10-9 in the third period, but were silenced by Manzanares as the Crusaders took the 3-1 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Manzanares had 17 saves for the Crusaders, as Synnott had 21 saves for the Hawks.
• The Crusaders held the advantage in face-offs (30-21) and shots on goal (24-18), as both teams were 1-6 on the power play.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Giannino now leads the team with five goals and is tied for first with seven points.
- This is the first time the Crusaders have defeated St. Anselm since 2011 and snaps the Hawks' four game win streak.
- Holy Cross' 4-0 start marks the fourth time in six seasons the Crusaders have won their first four games of the year.
UP NEXT
• The Crusaders continue ECAC East play as they host Franklin Pierce on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2:05 p.m. at the Hart Center.
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 at http://www.goholycross.com/list-signup.
