WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will open the new year with a two-game Hockey East Series on Friday, Jan. 3 and Saturday, Jan. 4. The Crusaders will first host No. 13/14 Boston University at 6 p.m. in the Hart Center Rink for a Turnpike Trophy showdown. Holy Cross will then travel to the city for the season series finale against No. 15 Northeastern at 7 p.m. in Matthews Arena. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (7-9-1, 3-7-1 Hockey East): 

• The Crusaders final series of 2024 concluded with a 2-1 OT win over No. 10 Boston College on Dec. 6 to take the season series victory (2-1) over the Eagles for the first time in program history. The Crusaders then fell to Merrimack on Dec. 7, 3-2 in overtime.
• In the first period of game one, the Eagles converted on the power-play off the face-off at 1:27. It wasn't until late in the third period that the Crusaders responded with senior forward Mackenzie King tying the score 1-1 after slipping the puck past the goalie in a scramble in front of the net. King forced the game into overtime and junior assistant captain Alexia Moreau assisted her.
• At 2:46 in overtime, Moreau netted the game-winner on her own for the 2-1 OT victory and the regular season series win over Boston College for the first time in program history.
• In the first period of game two, sophomore defender Kenzee Hope scored her career first from the blue line just a minute into the action off a fed-in by sophomore assistant captain Emily Crovo. The Crusaders extended their lead with a goal at 13:21 poked past the goalie by junior forward Lane Lewis. Junior defender Taylor Cantelon and Crovo assisted her. The Warriors cut Holy Cross's lead in half with a late goal at 17:31.
• Merrimack pulled its goalie to get the extra skater advantage and scored the equalizer at 19:50 in the third period to force the game into overtime
• At 3:00 in overtime, the Warriors scored to take the 3-2 win OT win the Crusaders.
• Crovo currently leads Holy Cross in every offensive category. She has scored six goals on the year, three of which were on the power-play, had eight assists for 14 points. Senior captain Emma Min leads the Holy Cross defense with 45 blocks so far this season, 24 more than the closest Crusader.
• Junior goalie Abby Hornung started between the Crusaders' pipes in both games. She earned the win over No. 10 Boston College on Dec. 6 and made 26 saves at Merrimack on Dec. 7. Against the nationally ranked Eagles, she made 38 saves and helped the Crusaders to their second program win and first season series victory over the Eagles. Hornung now has 1.83 goals against with a .943 save percentage. Abby is currently tied for second in Hockey East and seventh in the nation for overall save percentage (.943). 

TIPS ON THE TERRIERS (11-5-1, 9-2-1 Hockey East):

• The Terriers ended the 2023-24 campaign with a 14-18-3 overall record and a 12-14-1 conference record. Boston University concluded the season in the first round of the Hockey East Tournament, losing 4-2 to #10-seeded Holy Cross on February 28.
• Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Boston University was tabbed to finish sixth in Hockey East according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Terriers were predicted to finish behind UConn, Northeastern, Boston College, New Hampshire and Providence. The Terriers return 10 goal scorers and welcome eight new players, including five freshmen to the roster.
• In the last game of 2024, No. 13 Boston University beat Maine 3-1 on Dec. 6.
• After a scoreless opening period, the Terriers got on the board midway through the second period with graduate defender Tamara Giaquinto converting on the power-play at 11:38. She was assisted by fellow defenders Keira Healey and Maggie Hanzel. The Black Bears responded with a power-play goal of their own at 15:12 to enter the final frame tied up at 1-1.
• At 7:38 in the third period, junior forward Riley Walsh reclaimed the lead for Boston University with help from junior defender Maeve Carey. Graduate forward Lindsay Bochna sealed the game with a solo short-handed empty netter at 18:22 for the 3-1 victory over Maine.
• Forwards Lola Reid, Clara Yuhn and Sydney Healey currently lead Boston University with seven goals apiece. Senior forward Christina Vote has made the most assists on the team with 12 this season and Reid has racked up the most points with 13 on the year. Giaquinto has made 26 blocks so far this year, the most of any Terrier.
• Senior goalie Callie Shanahan is Boston University's go-to choice in the net making 25 saves and earning the win over Maine. She now owns a, 9-4-1 record, a 1.89 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.

HINTS ON THE HUSKIES (10-6-1, 8-4-1 Hockey East):

• In the final game of 2024, Northeastern beat New Hampshire 2-0 on Dec. 4. This week the Huskies are scheduled to open the new year against Merrimack on Jan. 3.
• After a scoreless two periods, the Huskies scored a late goal at 15:58 netted by freshman forward Éloïse Caron assisted by freshman forward Morgan Jackson and Lily Shannon. Graduate forward Jaden Borgen secured the victory for Northeastern scoring an empty netter at 19:05.7 for the 2-0 win. She was assisted by Caron and freshman defender Tuva Kandell.
• Senior forward Skylar Irving is Northeastern's leading scorer with seven goals netted. Caron holds the most assists of any Huskies with 9 this year. Irving and Caron each have 14 points a piece so far this season. Senior defender Tory Mariano leads Northeastern's defense with 29 blocks on the year.
• Freshman goalie Lisa Jönsson started in net for the Huskies making 17 saves, earning the win and shutout. She leads the conference and the nation with a 0.88 goals-against average and .967 save percentage. Jönsson has been named Hockey East Goaltender of the Week twice, Hockey East Player of the Week once, Hockey East Player of the Month (November) once and HCA National Women's Co-Goaltender of the Month (November) once.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Holy Cross and No. 13/14 Boston University met last season with the #10-seeded Crusaders making history by beating the #7-seeded Terriers 4-2 in the first round of the Hockey East Tournament on Feb. 28. This victory was the first post-season program win for Holy Cross since joining Hockey East as a Division I program.
• Holy Cross and No. 15 Northeastern met earlier this season with the Crusaders tying game one 4-4 on Oct. 18 and the Huskies taking game two 4-2 on Oct. 19.
• Holy Cross holds a 7-11-0 all-time and 6-10-0 conference series record against the Terriers.
• The Crusaders hold a 2-16-1 all-time and conference series record against the Huskies.

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