THE BASICS

Score: Holy Cross 5, Niagara 2

Date: Friday, November 27, 2015

Location: Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.

Records: Holy Cross (6-6-0, 5-3-0 AHC), Niagara (1-8-2, 1-3-1 AHC)

Time: 7:05 p.m.

The Lead: Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Crusaders then scored five consecutive goals as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated Niagara, 5-2, on Friday night at the Hart Center in Atlantic Hockey action. Junior Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.), senior assistant captain Brett Lubanski (Farmington Hills, Mich.), sophomore T.J. Moore (Edina, Minn.), freshman Peter Crinella (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and sophomore Danny Lopez (Barrington Hills, Ill.) each scored for Holy Cross. The Crusaders have won two straight games and six of their last eight contests and are now in third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders entered the ice in the first period with high intensity, firing a series of shots on net. Senior assistant captain Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) hit a one-timer slap shot from the left side of the blue line at 5:40, but the shot was saved by Niagara goaltender Guillaume Therien. At 7:31, senior Castan Sommer (Shrewsbury, Mass.) put a shot on target from the slot, but it was saved by Therien.
• Sophomore Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.) had two back-to-back saves during a power play to prevent Vinny Muto from scoring, but at 19:46, Keegan Harper netted a power play goal off a slap shot, as the Purple Eagles took a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
• After one, Holy Cross outshot Niagara 9-7. Niagara was 1-2 on the power play, as the Crusaders were 0-2.
• The Purple Eagles increased their lead to 2-0 in the second period at 3:15, as Muto put away the second goal of the night off a wrist shot.
• Holy Cross answered with a goal at 4:07. Barrett scored a power play goal off a one-timer slap shot inside the left face-off circle, with a pass from Bolton.
• Then just 44 seconds later, Lubanski scored the equalizer. After Lubanski won the face-off, freshman Johnny Coughlin (Fairpoint, N.Y.) hit a shot from the center of the blue line, which Lubanski deflected into the back of the net, making it a 2-2 game.
• The Crusaders earned the go ahead goal at 16:50 in the second. Moore scored a five-on-three power play goal, ripping a laser of a slap shot at the left face-off circle, after receiving a pass from Bolton, which went over Therien's right shoulder for the 3-2 lead.
• After the second period, Holy Cross outshot Niagara 12-9 and 21-16 overall. The Crusaders went 2-4 on the power play, as the Purple Eagles were 0-3.
• Crinella lengthened the lead by two in the third, making it 4-2 at 13:27. From the left side of the blue line, sophomore Tommy Muratore (Mendham, N.J.) dished a pass out to freshman Spencer Trapp (White City, Saskatchewan) just above the right face-off circle, who sent a slap shot towards net, as Crinella then deflected the shot past Therien.
• Next, Holy Cross posted its fifth goal at 17:04. Moore connected with Lopez off a backhand pass. Lopez placed the one-time shot past Therien for the score.
• The Crusaders maintained the 5-2 lead to secure the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross outshot Niagara, 31-24.
• Berrafato had 22 saves to earn the victory and improve to 5-4-0 on the season, while Therien had 26 stops.
• Holy Cross went 2-7 on the power play, and the Purple Eagles went 1-6.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Crusaders have won six out of their last eight games, outscoring their opposition 29-18.
• Crinella earned his first collegiate goal.
• Bolton and senior assistant captain Joe McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) each posted two assists tonight.
• Moore earned his second game-winner of the season and fifth of his career. Moore had one goal and an assist.
• Moore earned the game's first star, Bolton was the second and Lubanski received the third.

UP NEXT:

•  The Crusaders return to action tomorrow Saturday, Nov. 28, when they host Niagara at 7:05 p.m. 

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY DEALS:

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching! Get 20 PERCENT OFF most tickets for men's hockey when you purchase at GoHolyCross.com/tickets and 40 PERCENT OFF all apparel in the online store! Visit GoHolyCross.com to save on Crusader tickets and apparel this holiday season.

BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON:

• To purchase tickets for the 2015-2016 Holy Cross men's hockey season, call 1-844-GOCROSS or visit GoHolyCross.com/Tickets.

STAY CONNECTED:

• There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross men's hockey team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCrossMHockey, Facebook and Instagram.