WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's hockey team lost to the University of Connecticut 4-2 Saturday evening at the Hart Center.

The Crusaders would take the lead early in the first before the Huskies scored twice in the second to claim a 2-1 advantage. Bryn Saarela's goal late in the second would tie things up headed into the final frame, but UConn had just a bit too much firepower as Natalie Snodgrass would net the game-winner just three and a half minutes into the period. The Huskies would add another for a little insurance which led to the 4-2 victory.

Holy Cross pulled Jada Brenon with two minutes to play for the extra skater, which led to six shots in the finals minutes for the Crusaders, but none would find the back of the net. The Huskies had their fair share of looks at the empty net, but three blocked shots, two by Antonia Matzka and one by Emma Lange, kept the deficit at two.

SCORING SUMMARY:
1-0 HC (1^st, 8:43, EV): Katie MacCuaig caused a turnover at the red line and hit a streaking Sofia Smithson who beat the goalie with a hard shot for her second goal of the season.
1-1 CONN (2^nd, 1:08, EV): Jada Habisch tied the game from the low slot off a quick pass from behind the net.
2-1 CONN (2^nd, 10:53, EV): An almost identical play to their first goal led to UConn's second, this time by Danika Pasqua.
2-2 HC (2^nd, 18:30, EV): Three freshmen combined to tie the game for the Crusaders. Millie Sirum won the puck at center ice and was able to get it to Vaia Graves. Graves brought it down the left wall and fired a shot on goal, where Saarela was waiting to clean up the rebound.
3-2 CONN (3^rd, 3:34, EV): Snodgrass secured the game-winner with some high heat from the right circle.
4-2 CONN (3^rd, 10:07, PP): Pasqua got her second of the game to seal the deal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Saarela's sixth goal of the season leads the team and all Hockey East freshmen.
• Sirum's assist gave her 10 points on the year, the second Crusader to reach double digits.
• The Crusaders killed six penalties on the night before the Huskies finally converted on their seventh and final try.

UP NEXT:
Holy Cross' next opponent has yet to be announced as Hockey East has moved to a week-by-week scheduling format. Next weekend will be the final of the regular season as the Opening Round of the Hockey East Tournament is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 24.