Box Score NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Holy Cross men's hockey team tallied five third-period goals to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat Niagara, 6-3. Heading into the third period down, 3-1, Conner Jean led Holy Cross with two goals to go-ahead, 4-3, and eventually take a 6-3 win.
 
Niagara jumped out to an early lead, scoring just two minutes into the game on their first shot. Matt Radomksy went on to stop the next 11 shots he faced in the period. The Crusaders put five shots on frame in the opening period.
 
The Purple Eagles added another early goal in the second period to take a 2-0 lead. The Crusaders found offense as they put seven shots on goal before scoring a goal of their own. Thirteen minutes into the period, Alex Peterson struck for his fifth tally of the year to close the Niagara lead to 2-1. The Purple Eagles finished the period with a goal to take back the two-goal lead, 3-1.
 
Holy Cross started the third period with three goals. Less than a minute and a half into the final frame, the Crusaders found themselves back within one thanks to Kevin Darrar. Conner Jean rattled off two goals in four minutes and 11 seconds to put the Crusaders ahead, 4-3. Logan Ferguson and Matt Slick added to more goals to ensure the win, 6-3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1-0 NU | 1^st – 2:00, EV: On the rush, Niagara's Jack Billings stuffed the puck over the goal line.
2-0 NU | 2^nd – 1:58, EV: Reed Robinson scored on the back door as the Purple Eagles found a low two-on-one.
2-1 HC | 2^nd – 13:00, EV: Kevin Darrar wheeled around the net to take a low wrist shot that rebounded to Logan Ferguson in the high slot. Ferguson found the puck through traffic and slid it across to Alex Peterson on the back door for a backhand goal.
3-1 NU | 2^nd – 19:53, EV: With a scrum in front of the net, Eric Cooley scored on a low wrist shot to the far post.
3-2 HC | 3^rd – 1:27, EV: On a two-on-one, Darrar wristed a shot from the top of the circle to beat Niagara's Brian Wilson to the far post.
3-3 HC | 3^rd – 2:43, EV: Off of an offensive zone win, Jake Pappalardo sent a pass from the half-wall to the far post where Conner Jean waited uncontested for the goal.
4-3 HC | 3^rd – 6:54, EV: Jean skated into the high slot and one-timed a puck for to Crusaders' lead.
5-3 HC | 3^rd – 15:35, EV: Jack Surowiec broke up a play on the defensive blue line and sent Logan Ferguson on a breakaway. Ferguson shot five-hole to score.
6-3 HC | 3^rd – 16:38, EV: Matt Slick scored an empty net goal by winning a race to the puck.

NOTES & NUMBERS

• Matt Radomsky made 29 saves.
• Jake Pappalardo has picked up four assists in his last three games played, with a career-high two assists tonight.  
• Conner Jean hit the 10 goal mark with a career-high two-goal performance.
• Matt Slick has tallied one goal in his last three games.
• The Crusaders killed their last 11 penalties, including three against the Purple Eagles.

 
UP NEXT
The Crusaders will close the weekend at Niagara at 4:05 p.m. on Jan. 11.