WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Manny Gendron and junior Lulu Rourke both scored goals, as the Holy Cross women's ice hockey team posted a 2-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex. The Crusaders open the season at 1-0 overall, while the Engineers fall to 0-3 overall.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• After a scoreless first period, Rourke put Holy Cross up 1-0 with a power play goal early in the second. Rourke knocked in a rebound after a shot by sophomore Hannah Deck had been saved, with freshman Naemi Herzig also picking up an assist.
• Gendron made the score 2-0 in the third period, when she redirected the puck into the net off a shot by senior Taylor Cantelon. Junior Emily Crovo had the second assist on the play.
• RPI trimmed the margin to 2-1 late in the third period, as a puck off the stick of Charlotte Wensley was deflected up in the air and into the net off the back of Crusader senior goaltender Abby Hornung.
• Holy Cross held on down the stretch after the Engineers pulled their goaltender for the final 3:17, with two long shots at the empty net going off the post.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• The Crusaders finished the night with a 29-13 advantage in shots on goal.
• Holy Cross won its season opener for the third time in the last four years, improving to 17-8-2 all-time in its first game of the year.

NEXT UP:
• Holy Cross returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 27, when it concludes the weekend series with RPI at 6 p.m.

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