WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross men's hockey team downed Robert Morris, 5-3, at the Hart Center. Ryan Leibold notched a career-high two goals and Matt Radomsky turned aside 33 shots to lift the Crusaders over the Colonials.
 
Holy Cross's offense was kick started by Patrick O'Leary's first goal of the season just over the midway point of the opening frame. Conner Jean added his team-leading fifth power play goal of the season less than five minutes later to take a 2-0 lead. Ryan Leibold sealed the period with a goal of his own to put the Crusaders ahead, 3-0.
 
Leibold lit the lamp again in the second period to give Holy Cross a four goal lead early in the third period. The Crusaders ran into penalty trouble and defended nearly 1:30 of a five-on-three before the Colonials got on the board. Late in the second Robert Morris added a second power play goal.
 
After two periods, Matt Radomsky recorded 25 saves while the Crusaders trailed in the shot count, 27-22.
 
In the third period, the Colonials closed the gap to within one goal before Will Brophy sealed the game with an empty net goal, 5-3. Radomsky was tasked to make eight saves in the final frame to hold the victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1-0 HC| 1^st – 13:51 EV: Patrick O'Leary stripped the Colonials' defenseman at the offensive blue line and sent a wrist shot to the far post.
2-0 HC | 1^st – 18:18 PP: Dalton Skelly and Charlie worked the puck around the zone at the top of the blue line to set up Conner Jean for a one-time slap shot to sail through traffic.
 3-0 HC | 1^st – 19:07 EV: Jack Surowiec started the breakout and Logan Ferguson sent the puck to Ryan Leibold as Holy Cross entered the zone. Leibold fended off a hit and let go of a shot to beat Robert Morris' Justin Kaplemaster.
4-0 HC | 2^nd – 04:43 EV: Will Brophy sent Ryan Leibold on a breakaway, who buried it five-hole.
4-1 RMU| 2^nd – 10:59 PP: On a five-on-three power play, Justin Addamo scored.
4-2 RMU | 2^nd – 19:15 PP: On the power play, Jacob Coleman tipped in a goal.
4-3 RMU | 3^rd – 10:24 EV: Garrett Clegg tipped a puck around Radomsky to score.
5-3 HC | 3^rd – 18:35 EN: Off of the defensive zone faceoff, Will Brophy scored from range.  

NOTES & NUMBERS

• Leibold's two goals marks a career-high for the sophomore forward.
• The Crusaders and Colonials finished at an even 36-36 shot total.
• Holy Cross won 48 faceoffs to Robert Morris' 32.

UP NEXT
Holy Cross hosts Robert Morris to close the series on Feb. 15 at 7:05 p.m. The game will take place as part of the Crusaders' Worcester County Weekend, where all Worcester County residents can receive specially priced $5 tickets and are only available online at goholycross.com/worcester.