THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 5, Niagara 1
Records: Holy Cross (10-12-5, 9-7-5 AHC); Niagara (3-21-2, 3-15-2 AHC)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015
Time: 7:05 p.m.            
The Lead: Sophomore Nick Finn (Canton, Mass.) scored the game-winner for the Crusaders in the second period as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated Atlantic Hockey opponent Niagara 5-1 on Saturday night at the Hart Center.  Holy Cross had production from eight different players on the night completing the weekend sweep. Freshman goalie Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.) earned his second career victory in as many nights. The Crusaders swept the weekend series against the Purple Eagles having won on Friday night by a score of 6-3.

Postgame Press Conference and Highlights:

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Niagara jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off a goal from Dan Kolenda at the 1:59 mark in the first period. Chris Lochner fed Kolenda from behind the net who then drilled the puck over the stick side of freshman goalie Berrafato. 
• Holy Cross responded with the equalizer at 14:46 in the first period with a one-timer from junior captain Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.). Sophomore Brett McKinnon (Kelowna, British Columbia) delivered a centering pass through traffic right on the stick of Vidal who fired a shot directly over the glove of Niagara goalie Adrian Ignagni.
• Despite matching penalties to finish the first period, the score stayed knotted at 1-1. The Crusaders outshot the Purple Eagles 10-9 in the first period.
• The second period began with a continuation of 4-4 action but neither team scored on the play.
• Finn increased the Crusader lead to 2-1 at 10:31 in the second period.  Finn recovered the puck on a Purple Eagle turnover in the attacking zone and skated the puck in front of the net before finessing it in between the pads of Ignagni.
• Junior Brett Lubanski (Farmington Hills, Mich.) won the face-off for the Crusaders with two seconds left in the second period and sent the puck to junior Karl Beckman (Okemos, Mich.) who sailed it across the blue line to junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.). Bolton fired the puck from the blue line directly on target and beat Ignagni on the glove side.
• The Crusaders finished the second period with the 3-1 advantage.
• Holy Cross went 0-1 on the power play and outshot Niagara 16-9 to end the second.
• Opening the third period with energy, junior Joe McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) increased the Crusader lead to 4-1 at the 3:10 mark with a slap shot from the blue line.
• Adding to the lead was sophomore Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) on an unassisted goal at 8:05 in the third to increase the score to 5-1. The score would remain at 5-1 to finish the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Crusaders nearly doubled the Purple Eagles in shots with a margin of 47-24.
• Ignagni made 42 saves on the night and Berrafato made 23.
• Holy Cross went 0-2 on the power play on the only two power plays of the night.
• Holy Cross held the advantage in face-offs won 42-25.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• With his seventh goal of the season Bolton is tied for fourth all-time in the program's Division I history with most goals by a defenseman in a single season.  Having scored 10 career goals, Bolton moves to a tie for seventh on the school's career list with most goals by a defenseman.
• Finn earned his first career game-winning goal when he landed the puck in the back of the net in the second period.
• This is Berrafato's second career win.
• Sweeping the weekend series, Holy Cross has won the last six meetings against Niagara.  Holy Cross swept Niagara on the season, earning victories in each of the four match-ups.
• The Crusaders outscored the Purple Eagles 19-7 on the season.
• Holy Cross earned all three stars of the game with Vidal, Berrafato, and Finn going one, two and three respectively.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders continue with more Atlantic Hockey action next weekend with a home-and-home series against Bentley.  Holy Cross will play at Bentley on Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:05 p.m. and then return to the Hart Center on Saturday, Feb. 7 for a 7:05 p.m. start against the Falcons. Holy Cross defeated Bentley 4-2 back on Nov. 25th.

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.