WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will host two Hockey East opponents heading into the weekend. The Crusaders take on Providence on Friday, Feb. 9 and No. 11 UConn on Saturday, Feb. 10 for senior night and the Cousy Cup game. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. both nights at Hart Center Rink at Luth Athletic Complex. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (7-18-2, 4-15-2 Hockey East): 

• The Crusaders were on the road for the weekend making their way to Burlington, Vt. from Feb. 2 to 3 for the final matchup of the regular season with Vermont (UVM). The Catamounts claimed game one 6-3 and took a close 3-2 OT win in game two.
• In game one, the Crusaders got on the board late in the first period with a one-timer netted by senior forward Millie Sirum with just over a minute left in the opening frame. She was assisted by junior defenseman Emilie Fortunato and Carmen Elliott. The Catamounts replied with a power-play goal 24 seconds into the second period. Holy Cross reclaimed the lead a few minutes later with a goal by sophomore forward Charlotte Sonntag. She was assisted by Sirum and senior forward Lilly Feeney. Four minutes later UVM tied the game up at two goals a piece to end the second period. The third period opened with Sirum scoring her second goal of the night on a power-play to pull the Crusaders ahead. She was assisted by Elliott and Feeney. A short-lived lead was stolen away with the Catamounts netting three goals within nine minutes and one last empty net goal to take the 6-3 win.
• In game two, the Crusaders got on the board midway through the second period with a power-play goal scored by sophomore forward Lane Lewis assisted by forwards freshman Reghan Chadwick and Sonntag. The Catamounts replied two minutes later with a game tying goal and followed by a late power-play goal to end the second period 2-1. With four minutes left in regulation Feeney netted the equalizer with two great finds from senior forwards Bryn Saarela and Sirum to force the game into overtime. In overtime the Crusaders went on the penalty kill early and UVM capitalized on the advantage for the 3-2 win.
• Sirum leads the charge for Holy Cross in every offensive category with the most goals (10), most assists (10) and most points (20) of any Crusader. Junior defensemen Emma Min, Fortunato and Elliott led the Crusaders defense in blocked shots. Min has made 42 blocks, the most of the team, followed closely by Fortunato with 36 and Elliott with 33.
• Senior goalie Madison Beck was in between the pipes for the game making 15 saves in game one and 24 saves in game two for a 2.63 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this season.

FOCUSING ON THE FRIARS (11-15-3, 10-9-3 Hockey East):

• Providence concluded the 2022-23 season with a 22-11-4 overall record and 14-6-1 conference record. The Eagles finished in third place in the Hockey East and made it to the Hockey East Championship but fell to Northeastern 4-1.
• The Friars took home a tie and a loss on the weekend against UConn with a 2-2 tie and the shootout win on Friday, Feb. 2 and a close 2-1 overtime loss on Saturday, Feb. 3.
• In game one, after a scoreless first period Providence netted a goal at 3:03 in the second period scored by sophomore forward Reichen Kirchmair assisted by senior forward Rachel Weiss and Lily Martinson. The Friars extended their lead to 2-0 in the third period at 15:34 with a goal by senior forward Lindsay Bochna assisted by Martinson and Weiss. The Huskies caught up with two goals scored within a minute of each other to tie the game 2-2 at the end of the third period. Neither team scored in overtime and the game pushed to shootouts to decide which team went home with the extra point in Hockey East standings. Kirchmair scored in the first round and freshman forward Audrey Knapp scored in the second to claim the 2-0 shootout win and the extra point.
• In game two, UConn netted a goal midway through the second period and held the 1-0 lead until the third period. With less than three minutes left in regulation Knapp equalized the score 1-1 to force the game into overtime. She was assisted by Weiss and sophomore defenseman Cristina Cavaliere. At 3:46 in overtime, the Huskies pulled out the 2-1 win.
• Knapp is the Friars leading scorer with 12 goals on the season. Weiss has the most assists (14) and points (19) of anyone on the team. Senior defenseman Claire Tyo is a strong force for Providence's defense with 39 blocks so far this year.
• Junior goalie Hope Walinski was between the pipes for both games on the weekend. She made 34 saves in game one, a season high and 21 saves in game two. Walinski now has a 2.30 goals against average and a .908 save percentage.

HONING IN ON THE HUSKIES (18-6-4, 15-3-3 Hockey East):

• No. 11 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 took home a tie and a win on the weekend against Providence with a 2-2 tie and the shootout loss on Friday, Feb. 2 and a close 2-1 overtime win on Saturday, Feb. 3.
• In game one, after a scoreless first period Providence netted a goal early in the second period and extended their lead to 2-0 in the third period with less than five minutes left in regulation. The Huskies worked quickly with a power-play goal by sophomore forward Megan Woodworth at 17:11 to cut the Friars lead in half. She was assisted by junior forward Riley Grimley and graduate defenseman Camryn Wong. Just a minute later, junior defenseman Ava Rinker tied the game 2-2 to send the game into overtime. She was assisted by graduate defenseman Ainsely Svetek and sophomore forward Brooke Campbell. Neither team scored in overtime and the game pushed to shootouts to decide which team went home with the extra point in Hockey East standings. The Friars claimed the 2-0 shootout win and the extra point.
• In game two, senior forward Kathryn Stockdale netted a goal midway through the second period assisted by forwards freshman Maya Serdachny and junior Brianna Ware. The Huskies retained the 1-0 lead until the third period when Providence netted a goal of their own with less than three minutes left in regulation to ultimately force the game into overtime. At 3:46 in overtime, freshman forward Ashley Allard called game with a goal assisted by senior forward Jada Habisch to pull out the 2-1 win.
• Habisch is UConns leading scorer with 14 goals and has the most points with 23 so far this season. Graduate forward Tormala Coryn has 15 assists on the year so far to lead the Huskies. Graduate defenseman Ainsley Svetek leads UConn in blocks with 45, 20 more than the closest Husky.
• Junior goalie Tia Chan was in goal for game one of the Providence series where she made 18 saves. Junior goalie Megan Warrener was between the pipes in game two of the series where she made 26 saves. Both goalies are leading Hockey East in goals against average and save percentage with Warrener at the top followed by Chan. Warrener is ranked first nationally with a .836 goals against average and a .960 save percentage. Chan ranked 11th nationally with a 1.606 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Holy Cross and Providence met earlier this season, with the Friars both games of the series. Providence came out with a 3-1 win on Friday, Jan. 19 and the 5-2 victory on Saturday, Jan. 20.
• The Crusaders and the Huskies last encounter was earlier this season with UConn sweeping the series. The Huskies, ranked 12th in the nation during the series, claimed the 3-0 victory on Friday, Nov. 17 and a 3-1 win on Saturday, Nov. 18.
• The Crusaders own a 0-18-0 all-time series and conference record against the Friars.
• Holy Cross holds a 6-15-0 all-time series and 1-15-0 all-time conference record against UConn.

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