THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 3, RIT 1

Records: Holy Cross (11-14-5, 10-9-5 AHC); RIT (11-13-5, 10-8-5 AHC)

Location: Worcester Mass. (Hart Center)

Date: Friday, Feb. 13, 2015

Time: 7:05 p.m.

The Lead: Freshman Danny Lopez (Barrington Hills, Ill.) scored the game-winning goal for the Crusaders as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated RIT 3-1 in Atlantic Hockey action at the Hart Center on Friday evening. With the win, the Crusaders and the Tigers are tied for fifth place in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 25 points each. The top five teams in the standings earn a first round bye in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.

Video: Postgame Press Conference

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Tigers scored the first goal of the game at 5:46 in the first period when Greg Amlong passed to Matt Abt who rocketed a shot from the blue line.  Senior captain Matt Ginn (Lindsay, Ontario) saved the slap shot but Brandon Thompson was able to get the rebound and placed the puck glove side high.
• Holy Cross had two power play opportunities in the first period but couldn't capitalize.
• At 6:27 in the first period Ginn had an incredible save off his stick side forearm.
• In the first period, Ginn had 11 saves while Tiger goalie Mike Rotolo had five saves.
• Lopez blasted a shot off the boards and freshman Scott Pooley (Granger, Ind.) poked it in the net to tie the score at 8:52 in the second period. Junior Karl Beckman (Okemos, Mich.) added an assist.
• At 12:28 in the second period the Crusaders took the lead when Pooley assisted Lopez for a beautiful wrist shot into the top right corner past Rotolo's stick side. Freshman T.J. Moore (Edina, Minn.) tallied a assist.
• The Crusaders expanded the gap with the Tigers when Beckman sent junior Tim Driscoll (Hingham, Mass.) on a breakaway with a pass from the Crusaders' defensive zone, leading to a one-on-one goal against Rotolo at 16:50 in the second period.
• Despite the Tigers' 12 shots and the Crusaders eight shots in the third period, neither team scored.
• The Tigers went with an empty net at 17:52 in the third period but were unable to find the back of the net for the 3-1 final score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• RIT outshot Holy Cross 36-26.
• RIT won 37 faceoffs compared to Holy Cross' 32.
• Ginn had 35 saves to Rotolo's 23 saves.
• RIT had five power plays and Holy Cross had six, but neither team was able to capitalize. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Crusaders are 2-0-1 versus RIT this year.
• Lopez had his first game winning goal and his first collegiate assist.
• Pooley is in the team lead with nine goals for most goals this season.
• Driscoll scored his first goal of the season.
• Lopez was the first star, Pooley was the second, and Ginn was the third.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 against RIT at the Hart Center at 7:05 p.m for Pink The Rink and Winter Homecoming. This is the sixth annual Pink the Rink for breast cancer awareness.

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.