NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team made their way to Merrimack for game one of two on Friday night. The teams came to a 2-2 draw with the Crusaders earning the extra point in Hockey East standings due to a 2-0 shootout win.
In the first period, Merrimack struck first with a goal scored at 13:54. Senior goalie Madison Beck made a total of 11 saves in the period.
After a battle in the second period, the Crusaders answered back with an equalizing goal by senior forward Bryn Saarela for her first of the season. Sophomore defenseman Casey Borgiel sent a pass to junior forward Mackenzie King in front of the net who had took a shot and Saarela was there to sneak it past the goalie to tie the game 1-1.
Almost six minutes into the third period and the Crusaders took the 2-1 lead with Borgiel firing a shot from the point and sophomore forward Alexia Moreau tipped the shot in for the power-play goal. Merrimack equalized with a goal at 15:34 to tie the game 2-2 and force the Crusaders into their eighth overtime game of the season.
Neither side could take home the win in overtime giving both teams one point a piece in hockey east standings. For the extra point the two competed in three rounds of shootouts. Senior forward Millie Sirum and Saarela netted their goals and Beck denied the Warriors between the pipes for the Crusaders to earn two points in league standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first period, The Warriors struck first with a goal at 13:54
- The Crusaders equalized with a goal scored by Saarla at 18:31 in the second period
- Holy Cross took the lead with a shot by Borgiel tipped in by Moreau on the power-play for the 2-1 result. Merrimack tied things up with a goal at 15:34.
- Neither team scored in overtime
- Holy Cross took the shootout win 2-0 with Sirum and Saarela scoring and Beck making the save.
- The Crusaders led the Warriors in shots 54-51
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Saarela scored her first goal of the season
- Borgiel tacked on two more assists in the competition for a total of eight on the season, the most of any Crusaders.
- King had her first assist on the year
- Beck made 30 saves to 32 shots faced on the day.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross return to action to host Merrimack for game two of the series on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 5:00 p.m. in the Hart Center Rink.
