THE BASICS
Score: Holy Cross 3, Niagara 2 (OT)
Date: Saturday, November 28, 2015
Location: Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.
Records: Holy Cross (7-6-0, 6-3-0 AHC), Niagara (1-9-2, 1-4-1 AHC)
Time: 7:05 p.m.
The Lead: Freshman defenseman Spencer Trapp (White City, Saskatchewan) scored the game-winner in overtime with his first collegiate goal as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated Niagara, 3-2, on Saturday night at the Hart Center in the Atlantic Hockey action. Holy Cross swept the two-game series with the Purple Eagles as they also won on Friday, 5-2. The Crusaders have won three straight games and seven of their last nine contests. Holy Cross is now tied for second place in Atlantic Hockey standings with Mercyhurst with 12 points, who they host in a two-game series on Dec. 4-5.
Watch Highlights & Postgame Press Conference
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Niagara took an early lead in the first period, scoring at 5:57. Kevin Patterson received the puck from Stephen Pietrobon just above the two face-off circles and hit a wrist shot on net through traffic and past sophomore goalie Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.), as the Purple Eagles took a 1-0 lead.
- 2:18 later, Tanner Lomsnes scored a wrist shot goal on a breakaway. Nick farmer sent the pass to Lomsnes who placed the puck in the upper corner over the stick-side shoulder of Berrafato.
- The Crusaders answered with a goal at 12:52. Sophomore forward Scott Pooley (Granger, Ind.) received a diagonal pass from senior defenseman assistant captain Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) just outside the crease. Pooley knocked the shot past the glove side of Joe O'Brien, making it a 2-1 game.
- Trailing by one after the first period, Holy Cross outshot Niagara 8-5. Both sides were 0-1 on the power play.
- Holy Cross entered the ice in the second period firing on all cylinders. Berrafato stopped a snap shot from Derian Plouffe in the slot at 6:06.
- Then at 13:34, senior forward Castan Sommer (Shrewsbury, Mass.) re-directed a shot to post the second Crusader goal. Trapp hit a slap shot from the right side of the blue line, which Sommer deflected over O'Brien's head and into the back of the net from outside the crease, evening the score at 2-2.
- At the end of the second period, Holy Cross outshot the Purple Eagles 10-7. The Crusaders went 0-1 on the only power play.
- The action picked up at 1:38 in the third period. Sommer stripped the puck from a Purple Eagle defender at the right side of the blue line and put a shot on target, which O'Brien stopped, deflecting the puck into the left face-off circle. On the rebound, Pooley attempted a backhander shot, as O'Brien dove with his stick fully extended in front of the net to make the tremendous stick save.
- Berrafato made a brilliant save at 10:06 to prevent the go ahead goal. Sam Rennaker won the puck from the Crusader defense above the right face-off circle and hit a stick side wrist shot, which Berrafato used his blocker to deflect away to safety.
- The score remained tied at 2-2 after the third period, as Holy Cross led in shots 12-10. The Crusaders went 0-1 on the only power play of the third period.
- At 3:47 in overtime, sophomore defenseman Tommy Muratore (Mendham, N.J.) delivered a pass to Trapp who scored the game-winner, hitting a rocket of a one-timer slap shot from the right side of the blue line, which deflected off the stick side of the post and ricocheted into the net, to clinch the third victory in a row for the Crusaders.
Watch Spencer Trapp's Game-Winning Overtime Goal
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Holy Cross outshot Niagara, 31-23.
- Berrafato had 21 saves to earn the victory and improve to 6-4-0 on the season, while O'Brien had 28 stops.
- Holy Cross went 0-3 on the power play, and the Purple Eagles went 0-1.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The Crusaders have won seven out of their last nine games, outscoring their opposition 32-20.
- Trapp earned his first career goal, posting the game-winner. With his goal and assist tonight, he now has one goal and three assists on his career.
- Sommer and Pooley each picked up their third goals of the season.
- With his assist tonight, Bolton is tied in first in Atlantic Hockey for assists and leads the team in assists with 11. He leads the team with his 11 points.
- Holy Cross is 4-1 at home so far this season.
UP NEXT:
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.
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