BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Holy Cross men's hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision at Canisius in their first game back from the holiday break. Erkka Vanska returned to the lineup for the first time of the season and earned an assist, while Conner Jean and Grayson Constable picked up goals.
 
The Golden Griffins opened up the game's scoring just over five minutes into the game, but Holy Cross responded just four seconds later from Conner Jean. Canisius broke through once more in the frame on the power play to take a 2-1 lead. The Crusaders responded yet again, as Grayson Constable notched the first of his career, 2-2.
 
Holy Cross opened the second period with a 4:26 minute penalty kill and kept Canisus from breaking through. The Golden Griffins tallied their third of the game at the midway point of the frame, 3-2, and then doubled up their lead with just under five minutes, 4-2.
 
In the third period the Griffs scored on a power play to push the game to 5-2. Vanska followed up the play with a breakaway and was tripped up for a penalty shot, but his shot was saved. The Crusaders put 11 shots on goal, but were unable to convert in the final frame.
 
Matt Radomsky made 18 saves in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
1-0 CAN | 1^st – 5:39 EV: Matt Hoover collected his own rebound to score.
1-1 HC | 1^st – 6:03 EV: Neil Robinson collected the puck on the half wall and chipped it out to send Anthony Vincent rushing into the offensive zone. Vincent drove the put the puck on net to leave a rebound for a wide open Conner Jean on the other post. Jean fired back the rebound to even the score.
2-1 CAN | 1^st – 8:21 EV: From the right faceoff dot, Matt Hoover scored with a shot inside the near post.
2-2 HC | 1^st – 11:08 EV: Rushing into the offensive zone, Jake Pappalardo moved the puck to Erkka Vanska, who stalled and then sent a cross-zone pass to a trailing Grayson Constable. Constable let go a low wrister for his first career goal.
3-2 CAN | 2^nd – 10:31 EV: David Melaragni rushed into the zone uncontested to shoot to the top right corner of the net.
4-2 CAN | 2^nd – 15:12 EV: As penalty time expired, Nick Hutchinson snuck the puck in on the near post.
5-2 CAN | 3^rd – 6:16 PP: A lucky bounce in front of Radomsky led to a Keaton Mastrodonato goal.
 
 
NOTES & NUMBERS

• On the Crusaders' second goal, Grayson Constable scored his first collegiate goal and Vanska recorded his first assist.
• Conner Jean scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
• Vanska earned a point in his first appearance of the season.
• Holy Cross outshot Canisius. 26-23, and 11-6 in the third period.

 
UP NEXT
The Crusaders will close 2019 on Dec. 29 at 4:05 p.m. to finish the series with Canisiu