Box Score MILFORD, Conn. – Sacred Heart scored three unanswered goals Saturday night to defeat the Holy Cross Crusaders 3-1 at Milford Ice Pavilion.
Sacred Heart (4-3-1, 3-2-0 AHC) and Holy Cross (3-5-0, 2-2-0 AHC) played to a scoreless first period as Pioneer goalie Brett Magnus had seven saves to the Crusaders' Paul Berrafato's five.
In the second period, Holy Cross scored first as Brett Mulcahy was able to slip one by Magnus from a pile up in front of the goal with 15:10 remaining. The Pioneers answered quickly when Jacob Brightbill converted from the right circle with 14:00 left in the period, assisted by Spencer Graboski and captain Mitch Nylen. Sacred Heart added to the scoreboard with 5:44 remaining in the second when Justin Danforth's slap shot beat Berrafato glove-side high, with assists going to Zach Sabatini and Evan Jasper. Nylen sealed the game in the third period with an empty net goal in the final minute.
Holy Cross outshot the Sacred 24-18 for the game. Magnus made 23 saves for his fourth win of the season. Neither team could convert on the power play as Sacred was 0-for-1 and Holy Cross was 0-for-4. Nylen recorded his first points of the season with a goal and an assist.
Sacred Heart returns to the ice this Tuesday night, November 10th at AIC. Faceoff is at 7:05 p.m. at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Mass.
FIRST PERIOD
- At 12:25, Zach Sabatini's charge on goal was stuffed by Berrafato.
- Magnus made a nice pad save on Brett Mulcahy's shot with 8:35 remaining.
- Holy Cross' Joe McNamara's slap shot off a pass from T.J. Moore with 4:35 left in the period was gloved by Magnus.
- Berrafato made a tough glove save on a Brightbill shot from the left circle with 42 seconds remaining.
SECOND PERIOD
- Jasper's wrap around was blocked and Mike Crocock's rebound attempt was saved by Berrafato with 15:49 remaining.
- At 14:58, Connor Doherty's slap shot from the right circle was kicked aside by a Berrafato pad save.
- Alec Butcher's shot off a crossing pass was kicked aside by Berrafato with 8:52 remaining.
- Brightbill's goal was his fourth of the season while Danforth notched his third.
- Sacred Heart outshot Holy Cross 10-4 in the period.
THIRD PERIOD
- Magnus had a nice glove save off a Scott Pooley shot with 19:13 left in period.
- At 11:32, Zach Luczyk blasted a slap shot just wide left of the goal.
- Magnus blocked Mulcahy's shot from in close with 5:25 remaining.
- Coltyn Hansen's slap shot at 4:59 hit the post.
