WORCESTER, Mass. – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team came back from both a 2-1 and 3-2 deficit, but ultimately fell 5-4 as they opened the season at Holy Cross on Friday evening. Amanda Fontaine kept SHU close as she registered 36 saves, and Alanna Woodford led all Sacred Heart players with three points on one goal and two assists.

Woodford also tried to spark one final SHU comeback with 31 seconds to play as she netted the only power play goal of the game to cut the Crusader lead to 5-4. Cassandra Hanlon put one final shot on net but Alexandra Stevenson was able to make the save to secure the Crusader victory.

Casey Stathopoulos, the leading scorer for the Pioneers in 2013-14, opened the scoring as the end of the first period approached. Her goal came with just 35 seconds remaining in the first frame. Natasha Klinoff and Woodford assisted on the score.

Holy Cross came out of the first intermission strong as they used a 16-5 advantage in shots for the period to outscore the Pioneers 3-1 in frame. Kate Reilly and Kara Violette began the period by scoring less than six minutes in to take a 2-1 advantage. Julie Dobiac equalized with her first career collegiate five and a half minutes later. The Crusaders grabbed the lead once more as Nicole Giannino scored with just under five minutes remaining.

Klinoff took just sixteen seconds to pull the Pioneers even once again as Woodford and Alex Davis assisted to tie the game at 3-3 early in the final period. Holy Cross would respond by scoring the next two goals, less than two minutes apart, to take a 5-3 lead with eleven and a half minutes remaining.

The Crusaders held a 41-18 advantage in shots on net for the game, as Stevenson would register 14 saves in the victory. SHU went 1-3 on the power play, while Holy Cross was 0-2.

Sacred Heart and Holy Cross will battle again tomorrow as the two teams are set to square off at 2 pm in Worcester.