THE BASICS:

Score: RIT 2, Holy Cross 0
Records: Holy Cross (11-15-5, 10-10-5 AHC); RIT (12-13-5, 11-8-5 AHC)
Location: Worcester, Mass. (Hart Center)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015
Time: 7:05 p.m.            
The Lead: RIT's Brad McGowan scored the game-winner early in the second period as the Holy Cross men's hockey team fell 2-0 to RIT Saturday night at the Hart Center in Atlantic Hockey action.  Holy Cross split the weekend series with RIT as they won on Friday night by a score of 3-1. Tonight's game was the sixth annual "Pink the Rink" game for breast cancer awareness as well as Winter Homecoming where Bill Bellerose was honored for his dedication to Holy Cross athletics.

Video: Postgame Press Conference

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Neither Holy Cross nor RIT were able to find the back of the net in the first period despite aggressive fore-checking and a quick style of play.
• RIT outshot Holy Cross 11-4 in the period but gritty saves by senior captain and goalie Matt Ginn (Lindsay, Ontario) kept the Crusaders in the game.
• The Tigers finished the first period on the power play, taking three shots, but an acrobatic stick save by Ginn kept RIT off the board.
• RIT opened the second period with 12 seconds remaining on the man-advantage but did not score.
• Fifty-two seconds after the faceoff to begin the second period McGowan beat Ginn high on the stick side to give RIT the 1-0 lead.  Matt Garbowsky sent a powerful shot from the blue line directly on Ginn who made the original save but Josh Mitchell collected the rebound and deflected it to McGowan for the score.
• With just under two minutes to play in the second period, RIT increased its lead to 2-0.  Chase Norrish crossed the puck along the blue line to teammate Caleb Cameron who fired a shot on net which was deflected and collected by Mark Golberg who drove the puck between the pads of Ginn on a wrap-around shot.
• Both teams went 0-1 on the power play during the period.
• With just over a minute expired in the third period, freshman Danny Lopez (Barrington Hills, Ill.) nailed a shot off the post just missing the back of the net.
• The Crusaders went with the empty net with 25 seconds to play in the game but still fell to the Tigers by a final of 2-0.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• RIT outshot the Crusaders 32-16.
• Ginn made 30 saves while Jordan Ruby of RIT made 16.
• Holy Cross went 0-2 on the power play and RIT went 0-4.
• The Tigers won the faceoff battle by a margin of 43-20.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Garbowsky entered the game leading the nation in face-offs won and added 21 more to his season total.
• Junior Brett Lubanski (Farmington Hills, Mich.) entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in faceoff victories and earned nine more tonight.
• Holy Cross' penalty kill was strong on the weekend as they held RIT to 0-9 on the power play.
• The Crusaders won the season series against the Tigers going 2-1-1.

PINK THE RINK:

• Tonight's contest was the sixth annual "Pink the Rink" game in honor of breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer survivor Robin Batchelder performed the national anthem. Gina Finn, mother of sophomore Nick Finn (Canton, Mass.), participated in the ceremonial puck drop to begin the game. A limited amount of special edition "Pink the Rink" t-shirts were available for purchase. There was also a chuck-a-puck competition during the second intermission. The team also presented a check to Pink Revolution from the Power Play Points for Pink organization. 

WINTER HOMECOMING:

• As part of Winter Homecoming a trophy was given by the Holy Cross Club of Greater Worcester to Ruby as the contest's Most Valuable Player.

BILL BELLEROSE HONORED:

• Holy Cross Hall of Famer Bill Bellerose (Class of 1977) was honored at tonight's game. For over 40 years, Bellerose has been a dedicated contributor to the Holy Cross men's hockey program as a player, assistant coach, head coach and administrator. As a player, he finished his career third in career goals at Holy Cross with 71 and third in career points with 152. As a senior he was selected as an All-American Honorable Mention. After graduation, Bellerose was named an assistant coach and later became the head coach of the program. In November 1992, he was named associate director and business manager of athletics. Bellerose also would go onto serve as the Chair of the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee.   

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders continue with more Atlantic Hockey action next weekend with a home-and-home series against Sacred Heart.  Holy Cross will play at Sacred Heart on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:05 p.m. and then return to the Hart Center on Saturday, Feb. 21 for a 7:05 p.m. start against the Pioneers. The game on the Saturday will be Senior Night for the Crusaders. Holy Cross went 1-0-1 against Sacred Heart in the series back on Oct. 31- Nov. 1.

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.