WORCESTER, Mass. — The Holy Cross men's ice hockey team defeated Niagara, 4-3 in overtime, in Atlantic Hockey Association action Friday night at the Hart Center Rink.
Holy Cross improves to 12-16-3 (11-10-2 AHA), while the Purple Eagles fall to 15-13-3 (9-11-3 AHA).
THE GOALTENDERS:
- Crusaders: freshman Louden Hogg – 2-3-0, 19 saves, .864 save percentage.
- Purple Eagles: Chad Veltri – 14-11-3, 17 saves, .810 save percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Freshman Mack Oliphant struck first just two minutes into the first period, off a faceoff win by senior Alex Peterson. Oliphant picked the puck up at the top of the faceoff circle and skated around two defenders, creating a lane to send the puck past the glove of Veltri.
- Oliphant's defense partner, senior Nick Hale, scored the second goal of the game to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead just over seven minutes later, also off of a faceoff. Junior Matt Guerra won the draw back to Hale who, after taking a look at Oliphant open for the one-timer at the blue line, unloaded a wrist shot that Veltri never saw coming.
- Niagara's Ryan Cox cut the Crusader lead to 2-1 with just under five minutes remaining in the period. The Purple Eagles then picked up a power play goal at the 7:40 mark of the second period to tie the game.
- Peterson took the lead back for the Crusaders five minutes later on a magnificent feed by junior Jack Ricketts. Ricketts beat a Niagara skater to the open puck in the Holy Cross defensive zone, finding Peterson streaking up the right side. Peterson collected the puck on the breakaway chance, faking right before pushing the puck past the left side of an outstretched Veltri.
- Niagara's Ryan Naumovski tied the game on a 5-on-3 opportunity with just under three minutes remaining in regulation.
- Hale was the hero in overtime for the Crusaders, sending a wrist shot past Veltri halfway through the extra frame. Fellow senior captain Grayson Constable skated the puck up the right side and, after wrapping around the net, found Hale in front for the game-winning strike.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- With his assist tonight, Ricketts extended his point streak to seven games.
- Hogg has recorded at least 18 saves in all five of his starts this season.
- The Crusaders are now 3-1 in overtime games against AHA opponents this season.
THREE STARS:
UP NEXT:
- The two teams will play each other again tomorrow night, Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. The game will stream live on FloHockey.
- With three games left to play, Holy Cross and Niagara are now tied in the four-spot in the AHA standings with 34 points.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
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