Holy Cross Beats UNH 5-4

The Holy Cross Crusaders welcomed in the UNH Wildcats for their first ever home playoff game It was a racous crowd on hand at the Hart Center to watch these 2 evenly matched teams (1-1-1 vs. each other this season) battle it out in a Hockey East elimination playoff game.

At the end of 60 Holy Cross got the win after withstanding a furious comeback by UNH which included not 1 but 2 goals with their goalie on the bench. Talk about getting your money’s worth at this one! And yes I know the game admission was free, but you know what I mean!

In net for the visiting Wildcats was Noemi Martinez (2.49GAA with a .933%SV) making her 16th start of the season. Martinez went 3-2-0 over her last 5GP, but she’s been battling and got the W at Holy Cross earlier this month. At the other end of the sheet was Abby Hornung (1.60GAA with a .941%SV – tied for 5th in the NCAA) making her 23rd start of the season (not a typo). Hornung is winless in her last 5GP, but each game has ended in a one-goal differential so she’s been doing her job.

The Wildcats got on the board with less than 2mins to play in the first. Kelly Harty corralled the puck at the HC blue line and carried into the zone before putting a drag snap shot on net that beat Hornung over the blocker. The play looked close for an offsides, but no challenge came from the Crusader’s bench and UNH carried the lead into the first intermission.

With less than 4mins played in the middle frame, Holy Cross climbed back into this one off the stick of Charlotte Sonntag. Manny Gendron carried down the right side of the slot and fed Sonntag cross-crease where the Shattuck product tossed it home on her backhand. Tie game.

After the tying goal, Holy Cross really applied the pressure and the ice had a definitive tilt towards the Wildcat net. During an extended possession in the UNH zone, the Crusaders took their first ever postseason lead. Lulu Rourke carried down the RW and attacked the net from the goal line where she banked her shot off Martinez’ helmet and in. Just like she drew it up.

Rourke after her goal (probably)

After the Rourke goal, the Crusaders were pressuring the puck all over the ice and winning footraces. It seemed as if all the momentum was on the side of Holy Cross.

Until UNH tied it up.

A late power play (for the top PP unit in Hockey East) cashed in. Sadie Makokis and Callista Printz played catch up high before Makokis beat Hornung with a drag snap from just inside the RW circle. Tie game – again.

Holy Cross was awarded a power play late in the 2nd which carried over into the 3rd with a fresh sheet to operate on. And the Crusaders went to work. A pileup of players in the RW corner saw Reghan Chadwick come out with the puck, skating up the wall. Chadwick circled up to the top of the circle and put a heavy wrister on net that found home. 3-2 Holy Cross.

And then just about 3mins later, Sonntag put a laser under the bar for her 2nd of the afternoon. Hannah Deck carried the puck into the RW corner of the UNH zone and dropped to Gendron at the circle. Gendron put the puck on net and the rebound squirted out to Sonntag at the left half wall. Sonntag hit them with the fluttershot up high and put that knuckle puck in the back of the net. Holy Cross 4-2.

A Holy Cross power play just past the midway of the 3rd seemed to ice the afternoon for the Crusaders. Rourke put the puck on net from low on the LW where it skidded off Martinez and bounded out to the RW circle. Alexia Moreau put it home on the backhand through a very small window to get the eventual game winner. 5-2 Holy Cross.

It looked like it was all over for UNH as time wound down in the 3rd, but the Wildcats kept pushing the pace and believing they could climb back into the game. With 5:11 the UNH staff got Martinez to the bench for the extra attacker and you have to respect the aggressiveness of the move. When the game is lose and go home you have to throw all caution to the wind.

After a sequence of saves by Hornung in tight, UNH got one back when Kristen Hartman buried a feed from Printz with less than 4mins to play. Printz carried the puck down low on the RW and tried to feed Hartman out front. The puck was deflected but still wound up on Hartman’s blade and she tucked it home. All of a sudden it’s a one goal game.

Martinez was back in net for the face-off but was out again with about 3mins to play. Holy Cross had chances, but couldn’t cash in on the empty net and UNH kept the lanes clogged and the puck to the perimeter. With less than 90 seconds to go, UNH got within one.

A feed up high at the top of the umbrella was all Printz needed as she put a one-timer on net that found it’s way through a thicket of legs and sticks to put UNH back within a goal. Hang on to your heart medication!

UNH was unable to complete the total comeback but what a game between these two teams. Evenly matched all season, it came down to one of the more exciting games in Hockey East playoffs in a while. UNH goes home while Holy Cross sees who they match up with in the next round.

Some observations:

• Great play by HC Taylor Cantelon to sweep the puck off the goal line behind Hornung late in the 3rd
• Talk about playing to the final horn. UNH Sadie Makokis went all out in her own zone to deny an empty net goal late in the game. Never give up.
• HC Reghan Chadwick was on her horse in the first to get back on a power play and deny a short-handed bid by UNH. A great way to set the tone early.
• UNH Danika Botterill was all over the ice and had a huge eat late in the first when she dropped to one knee in front of a clapper. That may not get noticed on the feed, but her teammates see that.

And lastly, speaking of the feed. Hey Hockey East, what’re you doing? No audio through the first period until less than 6min to play? The commercials had audio but the game feed did not. And in the first with Holy Cross on a power play there was no penalty clock? What the actual hell? If you’re going to call this a Hockey East production on ESPN, then maybe do some producing? Maybe support the home team and make sure everything is in working order ahead of the broadcast? Let me ask you this: Would that happen at a men’s playoff game?

Please make sure to check out HC Captain Emily Crovo on the podcast earlier this week. She was awesome to talk to and we had some good laughs too.

If you’ve read this far you’re clearly a fan of the women’s game. Please like, share, subscribe and follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod and give the podcast a try. Thanks!

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