WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross men's ice hockey team defeated Mercyhurst, 4-1, Thursday night at the Hart Center Rink.
 
Holy Cross moves to 18-11-2 (17-4-2 AHA) on the season with the win, while Mercyhurst falls to 4-23-4 (4-16-3 AHA) with the loss.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore Jack Stockfish wasted no time getting the Crusaders on the board in the first, tipping a pass from junior Devin Phillips over the outstretched Lakers' netminder 12 seconds into the contest.
• Junior Michael Abgrall followed suit, extending the Crusader lead to 2-0 just over four minutes later when he netted a pass from junior Jack Seymour.
• Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second period, though not for lack of trying. Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst, 17-6, in the frame, and dominated at the faceoff dot, winning 14 draws to Mercyhurst's eight.
• Receiving a stretch pass from Phillips, senior Liam McLinskey managed a perfect feed to and open Stockfish, who beat the Lakers' netminder between the legs with a shifty move with 16:29 to play in the third, extending the Crusader lead to 3-0.
• Mercyhurst cut the lead to 3-1 just under a minute later, but an empty net goal by sophomore Will Troutwine with 2:30 remaining solidified the Holy Cross win.

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Senior Thomas Gale recorded 26 saves in the contest.
• The Crusaders dominated at the faceoff dot, taking 42 of the 67 (.627) of the draws. Stockfish led the way with 16 wins, followed by Abgrall with ten.
• Holy Cross killed all five of the Lakers' power play opportunities, moving to a 90.4% success rate on the season. 

 
UP NEXT:

• The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.
• Prior to the contest, Holy Cross will recognize their six seniors – Liam McLinskey, Matt Shatsky, John Gelatt, Thomas Gale, Nic Petruolo, and Michael Hodge – as part of their senior day celebration.

 
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