Score: Holy Cross 4, Rochester Institute of Technology 0
Records: Holy Cross (13-10-6, 10-7-6 AHC); RIT (11-18-1, 11-13-0 AHC)
Location: Rochester, N.Y.
Date: Friday, February 10, 2017
Time: 7:05 p.m.
The Lead: Junior goalie Paul Berrafato recorded a shutout and sophomore defenseman Johnny Coughlin scored the game winner as the Holy Cross men's hockey team defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology, 4-0, on Friday evening at the Gene Polisseni Center. The Crusaders have won three straight games and are 7-2-3 over their last 12 contests.
UNITED STATES MARINES THREE STARS:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Coughlin gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead with just 32 seconds left in the first period when he controlled a deflection off a shot by junior forward Danny Lopez, and then blasted a slap shot from the right face-off circle to the back of the net for the power play goal. Freshman defenseman Charlie Barrow also had an assist.
- The Crusaders took five shots and went 1-1 on the power play, while the Tigers posted seven shots and went 0-1.
- The second period went scoreless as Holy Cross outshot RIT, 11-9, while the Crusaders went 0-1 on the man-advantage.
- At 4:41 of the third period, junior forward Scott Pooley gave the Crusaders a 2-0 lead when he found the back of the net when he fired a one-timer from the right face-off circle. Freshman forward Kevin Darrar and junior assistant captain Tommy Muratore each tallied an assist on the goal.
- Just 18 seconds later, junior captain Brett Mulcahy knocked in the puck past the glove side of RIT goalie Mike Rotolo to increase the lead to 3-0. Sophomore forward Mitch Collett and junior forward Ryan Ferrill each recorded an assist on the goal.
- Then at 9:18, senior assistant captain Mike Barrett netted the last goal of the contest for the 4-0 final score. Sophomore defenseman Spencer Trapp and Barrow each posted an assist on the goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- RIT outshot Holy Cross, 27-26.
- The Crusaders went 1-4 on the power play, while RIT went 0-2.
- Berrafato made 27 saves to earn the win to improve to 13-10-6 on the season, while Rotolo recorded 22.
- The Crusaders won 20 face-offs, while the Tigers secured 30.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Coughlin now has two game winners this season. Four of his six career goals are game winners.
- Berrafato now has three shutouts this season which are tied for second all-time for a season in the program's Division I history. His six career shutouts are also tied for second all-time.
- Lopez has now posted at least one point in 24 of the 29 games this season. He leads the team with 31 points.
- Barrett now has 95 career points with 40 goals and 55 assists.
- Holy Cross is 7-2-3 over its last 12 games.
- The Crusaders are 9-0-1 when they score the first goal of the game.
- With the win, Holy Cross is now tied for third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 26 points. The top five teams earn a first round bye in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.
- The Crusaders are 6-2-3 versus RIT over last 11 games and are 2-0-3 over the last five in Rochester.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Feb. 11 when they conclude their two-game series at RIT at 7:05 p.m.
BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON:
- To purchase tickets for the 2016-2017 Holy Cross men's hockey season, call 1-844-GOCROSS or visit GoHolyCross.com/Tickets.
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