THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 4, Niagara 2
Records: Holy Cross (7-5-4, 6-1-4 AHC); Niagara (3-11-0, 3-7-0 AHC)
Location: Lewiston, N.Y. (Dwyer Arena)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014
Time: 7:05 p.m.            
The Lead: Freshman T.J. Moore (Edina, Minn.) posted one goal and one assist for two points as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated Niagara, 4-2, on Saturday evening at Dwyer Arena in Atlantic Hockey action. With the win, Holy Cross is 4-0-1 in its last five games and have won four straight. The Crusaders' 6-1-4 (16 points) Atlantic Hockey record is their best after the first 11 AHC games since the 2003-2004 season when they were 9-1-1 (19 points). Holy Cross has outscored its opponents by a 17-5 margin over the last four games. The Crusaders win the two-game series with the Purple Eagles as Holy Cross defeated Niagara, 4-1, on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead at 1:38 of the first period when Moore netted his team-best fifth goal of the season. Freshman Brett Mulcahy (Kelowna, British Columbia) passed the puck from behind the net to Moore who sent a backhander past the glove of Jackson Teichroeb. Freshman Scott Pooley (Granger, Ind.) also posted an assist on the goal. 
• At 10:44, the Crusaders went on a five-minute power play, but at 13:30 Hugo Turcotte scored a shorthanded goal for Niagara to tie the contest at 1-1.
• Holy Cross outshot Niagara, 11-8 in the first period, while the Crusaders went 0-2 on the power play and the Purple Eagles went 0-1.
• The Crusaders took a 2-1 lead when sophomore Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) netted a power play goal at 18:02 of the second period. The goal was his fourth of the season. Barrett scored off a rebound from a shot by Moore. Junior Joe McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) also tallied an assist. 
• At 9:40 of the third period, Turcotte went on a shorthanded breakaway and fired a shot that hit the post. The play was officially reviewed and confirmed that it was not a goal.
• The Crusaders made it a 3-1 game at 5:51 of the third period when junior captain Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.) scored a power play goal as he blasted a shot to the upper corner of the net over Teichroeb's glove. Junior Castan Sommer (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and sophomore Logan Smith (Littleton, Colo.) each posted an assist on the goal.
• At 17:13, junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) fired a slap shot to the back of the net while on the power play for his fourth goal of the year. Freshman Matt Scarth (Calgary, Alberta) and McNamara each tallied an assist.
• With just two seconds remaining, Robert Angiolella scored a goal for the 4-2 final score.        

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross outshot Niagara, 27-25.
• The Crusaders went 3-10 on the power play while the Purple Eagles went 0-6.
• Senior captain Matt Ginn (Lindsay, Ontario) recorded 23 saves, while Teichroeb also posted 23.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Crusaders' 6-1-4 (16 points) Atlantic Hockey record is their best after the first 11 AHC games since the 2003-2004 season when they were 9-1-1 (19 points).
• The Crusaders are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games.
• Holy Cross has outscored its opponents by a 17-5 margin over the last four games.
• The Crusaders have won four in a row versus the Purple Eagles. Last year, Holy Cross defeated Niagara, 4-2 and 3-2 at Dwyer Arena on Jan. 17-18, 2014, while the Crusaders won Friday night by a 4-1 score.
• The game-winner was Vidal's first of the season and the second of his career.
• Moore has scored four goals over the last three games.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 30, when they host ECAC opponent Yale at the Hart Center at 7:05 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 @HCrossMHockey 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.