WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will head to Storrs, Conn. to take on No.12 UConn for game one of two on Friday, Nov. 17 for the conference opener. The Crusaders will host the Huskies on Saturday Nov. 18 for 2010's music night. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. for both games and the competitions will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (3-6-2, 2-3-2 Hockey East): 

• The Crusaders tied the first game and dropped the second game to Merrimack in their two game set this past weekend. Holy Cross tied game one 2-2 going into their eighth overtime game of the season taking the shootout win 2-0 to earn the extra point in league play. The Crusaders fell in game two at home 4-3 in regulation.
• In game one, Merrimack scored first at 13:54 in the first period. The Crusaders battled back in the second period with an equalizing goal by senior forward Bryn Saarela, her first of the season. She was assisted by sophomore defenseman Casey Borgiel and junior forward Mackenzie King. Almost six minutes into the third period sophomore forward Alexia Moreau took the 2-1 lead over the Warriors on the power-play. Merrimack tied things up 2-2 to force the game into overtime for the eighth time this season. Senior forward Millie Sirum and Saarela netted their shootout goals and senior goalie Madison Beck denied Merrimack on their redemption attempt to give Holy Cross the extra point in Hockey East standings. 
• In the second game, Merrimack got on the board early with a goal 44 seconds into the game. The Warriors extended their lead scoring seven minutes later. The Crusaders cut Merrimack's lead in half with a goal by junior defenseman Emilie Fortunato, her first of the season. She was assisted by junior defenseman Carmen Elliott and freshman forward Reghan Chadwick. Senior forward Lilly Feeney equalized the score 2-2 to conclude the first period. To begin the second period, Sirum netted a one-timer to take the 3-2 lead over the Warriors. She was assisted by Borgiel and Moreau. Merrimack equalized seven minutes later and then reclaimed the lead on a power-play goal with 33 seconds left in the second period. Neither team scored in the third period for the Crusaders dropping the competition 4-3.
• Sirum and sophomore forward Alexis Perry are Holy Cross's leading scorers, tied with five goals apiece. Borgiel has the most assists of any of the Crusaders with nine. Moreau leads the team in points with 10 so far this season.
• Elliott currently leads the Crusaders with 19 blocks. She is closely followed by Fortunato who has 18 and junior defenseman Emma Min with 17.
• Beck made 30 saves in game one at Merrimack and 21 saves in game two at home against the Warriors. Beck is nationally ranked in 18th and third in Hockey East with a .931 save percentage. She is ranked 20th in the nation and fifth in the conference with a 2.04 goals against average. 

HONING IN ON THE HUSKIES (7-3-1, 6-3-0 Hockey East):

• UConn concluded the 2022-23 season with a 18-13-4 overall record and 12-11-4 conference record. The Huskies finished in fifth place in the Hockey East and made it to the quarterfinals of the Hockey East Tournament to fall to Boston College 4-3.
• The Huskies opened their season at Penn State on Sept. 29-30 taking a win and a tie over the Nittany Lions. They then their next three games, two to Boston College and one game to New Hampshire. The Huskies took the second game over the Wildcats 4-0 to end their series. UConn then won the next five games for the current six-game win streak. The most recent matchup was between the Huskies and Maine this past weekend on Nov. 10-11. UConn defeated the Black Bears 1-0 in game one and 3-1 in game two.
• In game one, the Huskies took the lead in the first period on a power-play goal scored by senior forward Jada Habisch. She was assisted by sophomore forward Christina Walker and junior forward Riley Grimley. The Huskies held off the Black Bears for the next two periods for the 1-0 win.
• In game two, UConn once again scored first in the opening period at 13:54 with a power-play goal by sophomore forward Brooke Campbell. She was assisted by graduate forward Coryn Tormala and junior defenseman Ava Rinker. Neither team scored in the second period. The Huskies took the 2-0 lead at 11:13 in the third period with a goal by Habisch assisted by sophomore defenseman Emma Eryou. Habisch extended the lead to 3-0 three minutes later assisted by freshman forward Ashley Allard. Maine managed to tack on one goal before the competition concluded.
• Junior goalie Tia Chan was in goal for both games earning the 2-0 sweep over Maine. She made 21 saves and earned a shutout in game one. In game two she only allowed one goal in and made 34 saves. Chan has only conceded one goal in her last three starts. Chan is ranked 9th nationally and second in Hockey East with a 1.35 goals against average. She is currently ranked fifth nationally and first in the conference with a .940 save percentage.
• Habisch was named Hockey East Player of the Week and Chan was named Hockey East Goaltender of the Week due to their efforts on the ice against Maine.
• Habisch is UConns leading scorer with seven goals and has the most points with nine so far this season. Coryn has six assists on the year so far to lead the Huskies.
• Graduate defenseman Ainsley Svetek leads the Huskies in blocks with 18.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Holy Cross and UConn met last year with the Crusaders last hosting the Huskies for their final matchup of the season. UConn took a swift 3-0 win over Holy Cross to add to the Huskies two game win streak.
• Holy Cross holds a 6-13-0 all-time series and 1-13-0 all-time conference record against UConn.

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