WORCESTER, Mass. - The Holy Cross men's ice hockey team defeated RIT, 3-2, in the final game of the regular season on Saturday night at the Hart Center Rink.

With the win, Holy Cross finishes the regular season with a 16-16-2 (14-10-2 AHA) record and the fourth seed in the Atlantic Hockey Postseason tournament, while RIT closes out the regular season with a 17-15-2 (13-11-2 AHA) record and the fifth seed in the tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Devin Phillips got the Crusaders on the board with 5:25 remaining in the opening period of play. Drawing the defense's attention, junior Ty Gagno squeaked a pass across the crease to an open Phillips for the one-time shot.
• Neither team was able to score in a defense-heavy second period that saw Holy Cross narrowly outshoot RIT, 5-4.
• Junior Jack Stockfish extended the Holy Cross lead to 2-0 at the halfway mark of the final period of regulation, sending a wrist shot over the shoulder of the Tigers' netminder for the Crusaders' second power play goal of the night.
• RIT responded with their first goal of the contest, a shorthanded strike, five minutes later.
• With the Tigers' netminder pulled for an extra attacker, senior Timothy Heinke forced a turnover at the defensive blue line, finding senior Jack Seymour in stride for an empty net goal and the 3-1 lead with 48.7 seconds to play.
• RIT was able to find the back of the net with 7.2 seconds to play on the 6-on-5 opportunity, but it proved to not be enough.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Freshman Danick Leroux recorded 20 saves in the contest, 11 of which came in the third period.
• Stockfish led both sides with 15 faceoff wins as the two teams tied at the dot, 31-31.
• Holy Cross finished the night with 20 blocked shots to RIT's seven, led by Stockfish's four blocks.

UP NEXT:

• The two teams will faceoff again next weekend in the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals at the Hart Center Rink on Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7, and, if necessary, Sunday, March 8.
• Additional details and ticket information will be released in the coming days on goholycross.com. 

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