WORCESTER, Mass.- The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team will travel to Providence for a two-game series on Friday, Jan. 10, and Saturday, Jan. 11. Game one is set for a 6 p.m. puck drop and game two will have a 3 p.m. opening face-off at Schneider Arena. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (7-11-1, 3-9-1 Hockey East): 

• The Crusaders opened the new year with a 3-0 loss to No. 13/14 Boston University on Jan. 3 and a 4-0 loss to No. 15 Northeastern on Jan. 4. 
• Neither team scored in the first period of game one.
• In the second period, the nationally ranked Terriers netted two goals for the 2-0 lead.
• No. 13/14 Boston University scored a final goal in the third period to take the 3-0 win over Holy Cross. Two of their three goals were scored on the power-play.
• In game two, No. 15 Northeastern scored one goal in the first period, two in the second and one in the third for the 4-0 win over the Crusaders.
• Sophomore assistant captain Emily Crovo is currently Holy Cross's leading in every offensive category. She has scored six goals on the year, three of which were on the power-play, and had eight assists for 14 points. Senior captain Emma Min leads the Holy Cross defense with 50 blocks so far this season, 25 more than the closest Crusader.
• Junior goalie Abby Hornung started between the Crusaders' pipes in both games. She made 27 saves against No. 13/14 Boston University and 41 saves at No. 15 Northeastern. Hornung now has 2.11 goals against with a .936 save percentage.

FACTS ON THE FRIARS (9-8-3, 5-6-2 HE):

• The Friars ended the 2023-24 campaign with a 13-17-5 overall record and a 12-10-5 conference record. Providence fell in the Hockey East tournament quarterfinals with a 2-1 overtime loss to #4-seeded Boston College on Mar. 1. 
• Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Providence was tabbed to finish fifth in Hockey East according to the Preseason Coaches Poll. The Friars return two All-Conference selections, three of their top five leading scorers, three of their top five strongest defenders, and two of their three active goalies. Providence welcomes eight new Friars, five freshman and three transfers to complete their roster for the year. Former Crusader, forward Millie Sirum is one of the three transfers to join the Friar's ranks after graduating from Holy Cross in 2024.
• The Friars began the new year with a weekend sweep over Vermont, 5-3, on Jan. 3 and Merrimack, 4-1, on Jan. 4.
• In game one, Providence got on the board with a power-play goal late in the first period scored by graduate defender Brooke Becker at 17:29 and assisted by senior goalie Hope Walinski. 
• Vermont responded with two goals to take the lead early in the second period at 3:29 and 8:54. Sophomore forward Audrey Knapp tied the game at 13:54 with help from Becker. The Friar's sophomore defender Peyton Blaney reclaimed the 3-2 lead at 15:22 assisted by forwards Dylan Berman and Sarah Davies. Graduate forward Millie Sirum furthered the advantage with another game at 17:42. She was assisted by freshman forward Jessie Pellerin and senior defender Lily Martinson.
• At 2:24 in the final frame, the Catamounts scored to bring the game within one. Senior forward Ashley Clark sealed the Providence win with an empty netter at 18:30 for the 5-3 victory. She was assisted by Pellerin and senior defender Lily Hendrikson.
• After a scoreless first period in game two, Knapp found the back of the net at 9:30 in the second period. Hendrikson and junior forward Reichen Kirchmair were credited with the assists. Just three minutes later the Friars lead doubled with junior forward Mégane Quirion scoring with help from Hendrikson and Davies.
• Merrimack responded to get on the board midway through the third period for the 2-1 result. Sirum knocked in a third Providence goal at 10:05 assisted by freshman defender Hannah Clarke and Clark. Senior forward Hannah Johnson secured the victory with a short-handed empty netter at 17:44 assisted by Clark. The Friars earned the 4-1 win over the Warriors. 
• Knapp currently resides as Providence's leading scorer with 10 goals on the season. Kirchmair, Becker and Clark all have nine assists a piece so far this year. Kirchmair leads the squad with 18 points and counting. Hendrikson has the most blocks of any Friar, 28, so far this season.
• Walinski is Providence's go-to choice in net starting both games on the weekend. She made 27 saves against Vermont and 15 saves against Merrimack earning the win in both outings. Walinski owns a 1.93 goals against average and a .923 save percentage with two shutouts and an 8-7-3 record.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• Holy Cross and Providence met last season with the Crusaders hosting the Friars for the season series finale on Feb. 9. The game resulted in a 1-1 tie with Holy Cross taking the 2-0 shootout victory to earn the extra point in conference standings.
• The Crusaders hold a 0-18-1 all-time and conference series record against the Friars.

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