Holy Cross to host Northeastern in final matchup of the season

WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will open the new year with a night game against Northeastern on Friday Jan. 5. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. at Hart Center Rink at Luth Athletic Complex. Fans can stream the broadcast on ESPN+.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (5-11-2, 2-8-2 Hockey East):

The Crusaders concluded 2023 with a close 2-1 loss to Boston University (BU) on the road on Friday Dec. 8.
The Terriers got on the board first scoring early in the first period at the 3:14 mark. It wasn't until the third period when the Crusaders equalized the score with a goal by junior forward Madison Michals at 10:42. The junior scored the first goal in two games for the Crusaders and was assisted by freshmen forwards Emily Crovo and Lulu Rourke.Just five minutes later BU reclaimed the lead on a power-play goal to seal the 2-1 victory over Holy Cross.
Michals made her way to Holy Cross from BU after her freshman season and netted her second goal of the season against her old team. Crovo had her third assist on the year and Rourke earned her first career assist and point on the goal.
Senior forward Millie Sirum still leads the charge as Holy Cross's leading scorer with seven goals on the year. Sophomore defenseman Casey Borgiel has racked up nine assists so far this season, the most of the Crusaders. Sirum and sophomore forward Alexia Moreau hold the most points for Holy Cross with 14 apiece. Junior defensemen Emma Min, Emilie Fortunato and Carmen Elliott led the Crusaders defense in blocked shots. Min has now taken the lead with 24 blocks, the most of the team, followed closely by Fortunato with 23 and Elliott with 22.
Sophomore goalie Brooke Loranger was in between the pipes for the game displaying a strong performance for the Crusaders in net. She made 40 saves, six shy of her career high for a 2.70 goals against average and a .902 save percentage this season.

HISTORY ON THE HUSKIES (12-8-0, 7-6-0 Hockey East):

Northeastern concluded the 2022-23 season with a 34-3-1 overall record and 24-2-1 conference record. The Huskies finished in 1sth place in the Hockey East and won the Hockey East Tournament in a 4-1 win over third seeded #14 Providence. Northeastern made it to the second round of the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship before falling the first seeded #1 Ohio State in a 3-0 loss.
The Huskies jumped back into action earlier this week with a non-conference mid-week game against No. 14/13 Yale on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Northeastern pulled off the teams second overtime win in a row, 2-1, to add to the Huskies now four game win streak.
Yale made the first move netting a goal at 13:23 in the first period to take the lead. Neither team scored in the second period with the Huskies equalizing the score in the third period on a power-play goal. Sophomore defenseman Jules Constantinople tied things up 1-1 at 4:48 assisted by freshman defenseman Rylie Jones and junior forward Skylar Irving forcing the game into overtime
Fifth year forward Katy Knoll netted the game-winner at 3:16 into overtime to end the game and take home the win. Irving recorded her second assist of the night on the goal.
Graduate forward Peyton Anderson currently leads Northeastern with nine goals. Irving leads the team in assists (15) and points (19) so far this year. Constantinople has the most blocks of any Husky with 36 this season.
Fifth year goalie Gwyneth Phillips is Northeastern's go-to choice in net. She had a season high of 45 saves in goal for her 12th win on the season. Phillips is undefeated at Ingalls Rink with a perfect 2-0-0 career record in the Bulldogs house. The fifth year now has a 1.20 goals against average and a .952 save percentage.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

Holy Cross and Northeastern met earlier this season with a two game series on Oct. 27-28. The Crusaders split the series with the Huskies first taking a 1-0 overtime win away for the first time since 2018. The game winner was netted by sophomore forward Alexis Perry and senior goalie Madison Beck earned her second career shutout in net. The Crusaders dropped the second game 4-2 at home.
Holy Cross holds a 2-14-0 all-time series and conference record against Northeastern.

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