WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will travel to Burlington, Vt. for their two-game series finale with Vermont (UVM) on Friday Feb. 2 and Saturday Feb. 3. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. for both games at the Gutterson Fieldhouse. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (7-16-2, 4-13-2 Hockey East): 

• The Crusaders faced off with Boston University (BU) this past weekend for a two game series. Holy Cross swept the weekend taking the 2-1 win on Friday, Jan. 26 and the 3-2 victory at home on Saturday, Jan. 27.
• In game one, the Terriers scored within five minutes of the opening period. The goal went unanswered until midway through the second period with an equalizing goal scored by sophomore forward Alexia Moreau. The assist was credited to senior forward Bryn Saarela who scored to take the lead for the Crusaders six minutes later. Holy Cross held on to the final horn to take the 2-1 win over BU.
• In game two, senior forward Millie Sirum ripped a shot into the top shelf with seven seconds left in the first period to put the Crusaders ahead ending the opening frame. The Terriers answered with an equalizing goal just five minutes into the second period. Freshman forward Emily Crovo had a putback goal for her career first to reclaim the lead 2-1 at 14:26. A short lived lead with BU tying the game back up 26 seconds later. Crovo struck again sneaking the puck past the goalie with a great find from fellow freshman forward Lulu Rourke. The Crusaders held on for the remainder of the game to take home the 3-2 win and the series victory.
• Sirum is currently leading the charge as Holy Cross's leading scorer with eight goals on the year and has the most points of any Crusaders with 16. Sophomore defenseman Casey Borgiel has racked up nine assists so far this season, the most of the Crusaders. Junior defensemen Emma Min, Emilie Fortunato, and Carmen Elliott led the Crusaders defense in blocked shots. Min leads the team  with 39 blocks on the year followed closely by Fortunato with 36 and Elliott with 29.
• Sophomore goalie Brooke Loranger was between the pipes for both games this past weekend. She made 28 saves in game one and another 37 in game two. She now has a 2.86 goals against average and a .906 save percentage this season.

CATCHING UP WITH THE CATAMOUNTS (9-15-2, 7-11-1 Hockey East):

• Vermont (UVM) concluded the 2022-23 season with a 22-11-3 overall record and 16-8-3 conference record. The Catamounts finished in 2nd place in the Hockey East and made it to the quarterfinals of the Hockey East Tournament. They fell to third seeded Providence in a close 1-0 loss.
• The Catamounts ended a seven game losing streak with a tie on Saturday, Jan. 27 with No. 11 UConn. The Huskies came out with the extra point in Hockey East standings taking the shootout win 2-1. UConn also claimed the first game on the weekend 3-0 on Friday, Jan. 26.
• In game one, UConn scored a goal in each period for the 3-0 win. In game two, both teams were unable to score during regulation or in overtime for a 0-0 result. To determine which team would earn the extra point in conference standings, the game went to shootouts. Neither team scored in the first round but senior forward Natálie Mlýnková scored for the Catamounts in round two. The Huskies answered with a goal of their own. UVM missed in the third round but UConn scored to take home the extra point, 2-1 in shootouts.
• Mlýnková is the Catamounts leading scorer with 12 goals and has the most assists with 23 on the season. Sophomore defenseman Krista Parkkonen leads the team with 12 assists, the most of any Catamount. Fifth year Sara Levesque leads the Catamounts in blocks with 55. She is followed by Parkkonen who has 51 blocks this season.
• Senior goalie Jessie McPherson is Vermont's go-to choice in net. She made 42 saves in a weekend sweep of New Hampshire. She made 24 saves on Friday and 18 saves on Saturday. McPherson now has a 2.61 goals against average and a .894 save percentage. 

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Holy Cross and UVM last met earlier this season with the Crusaders hosting the Catamounts on Nov. 3. Holy Cross took a 3-2 overtime win over UVM with the game winner coming from Sirum, unassisted at the 3:44 mark in OT.
• Holy Cross holds a 4-10-1 all-time series and 4-7-1 all-time conference record against Vermont.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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