ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Holy Cross men's ice hockey team defeated No. 20 RIT, 5-1, Sunday evening at the Gene Polisseni Center to earn a spot in the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game for the first time since 2006.
 
Junior Jack Ricketts scored the first goal for either side with just under three minutes remaining in the first period. Freshman Mack Oliphant cleared the puck out of the zone, finding freshman Matt DeBoer. DeBoer sent the puck across the front of the net, finding junior Jack Ricketts. Ricketts collected the puck and skated around his defender to the slot, unleashing a wrist shot that hit the crossbar before falling into the back of the net.
 
Just 1:07 later, senior Bobby Young entered the offensive zone in a one-on-two situation. Drawing both defenders behind the net, Young dropped a no-look pass towards the front of the net that senior Grayson Constable stepped up to, sending a one-timer on net that RIT netminder Tommy Scarfone saved. His rebound went right back to Constable, who tapped the puck into the open net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
 
The Tigers picked up the first goal of the second period at the 10:51 mark on a strike by Grady Hobbs to cut the Holy Cross lead to 2-1.
 
Constable picked up his second of the game with 1:26 remaining in the period. Forcing a turnover behind the net, Constable kicked the puck out to junior Tyler Ghirardosi. Ghirardosi sent a quick pass back to Constable that deceived the RIT defense, allowing Constable to wrap around the net and slide the puck into the net unopposed.
 
The two teams were scoreless in the third period until RIT pulled Scarfone for an extra attacker. With 2:40 remaining in the third period, junior Matt Guerra sent the puck the length of the ice, just wide of the empty net. Junior Alec Cicero turned on the jets, beating the icing call and the RIT defense to collect the bounce off the end boards and send the puck into the back of the net.
 
A minute later, sophomore Liam McLinskey picked up his ninth goal of the playoffs so far. Forcing a turnover at the defensive blue line, McLinskey skated the puck the length of the ice for the fifth and final goal for the Crusaders.

Junior netminder Jason Grande recorded 25 saves in the win, finishing the three-game series with 102 saves. Scarfone recorded 19 saves in the loss.
 
Holy Cross will travel to Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. on Saturday, March 18 for the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game.
 
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