THE BASICS:
Score: Holy Cross 2, RIT 2 (OT)
Location: Rochester, N.Y. (Gene Polisseni Center)
Records: Holy Cross (13-9-3, 11-5-3 AHC); RIT (12-10-3, 12-5-2 AHC)
Date: Friday, Jan 29, 2016
Time: 7:05 p.m.
THE LEAD: Sophomore goalie Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.) posted a career-best 42 saves as the Holy Cross men's hockey team tied the Rochester Institute of Technology, 2-2, in the first game of a two-game Atlantic Hockey series on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- At 17:10 of the first period, Gabe Valenzuela blasted a one-timer from right in front of the net, but Berrafato made the save to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
- The Crusaders outshot the Tigers for the first period by a 10-8 margin.
- At 4:25 of the second period, the Crusaders took a 1-0 lead when junior forward Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) sent a pass to sophomore forward Danny Lopez (Barrington Hills, Ill.), who then fired a wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle to the upper corner of the net on the stick side of RIT goalie Christian Short. Senior assistant captain Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) also posted an assist.
- Liam Kerins then went on a breakaway at 7:15 of the second period, but Berrafato was able to make the big save.
- RIT outshot Holy Cross, 20-4, while the Tigers went 0-1 on the only power play of the period.
- At 14:33 of the third period, senior captain Matt Vidal (Manorville, N.Y.) sent a one-timer past the glove of Short to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead. Sophomore forward Brett Mulcahy (Kelowna, British Columbia) tallied an assist on the goal.
- With 2:09 left in the third period, the Tigers went with the empty net. And with 1:10 remaining, Caleb Cameron found the back of the net on a rebound from a shot by Todd Skirving.
- Then with just 33.5 seconds remaining, Brady Norris blasted a slapshot from the blue line past Berrafato's stick side to tie the game at 2-2.
- Neither team was able to score the game-winner in overtime for the 2-2 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- RIT outshot Holy Cross, 44-22.
- Berrafato recorded 42 saves, while Short tallied 20 saves for the Tigers.
- The Tigers went 0-1 on the only power play of the contest.
- RIT won 33 face-offs, while the Crusaders took 25.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Lopez now has six goals this season and nine for his career.
- The Crusaders are 2-1-3 this season in overtime.
- The Crusaders' 11-5-3 conference record is their best after 19 games since 2005-2006 when the team was 14-4-1. The Crusaders' 13-9-3 overall record after 25 games is their best since 2005-2006 when the Crusaders were 18-6-1.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 30, when they conclude their two-game series at RIT at 7:05 p.m.
BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON
- To purchase tickets for the 2015-2016 Holy Cross men's hockey season, call 1-844-GOCROSS or visit GoHolyCross.com/Tickets.
STAY CONNECTED
