Box Score WORCESTER, Mass. –
Hanna Skelley scored her first goal of the year as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey season ended with a 4-1 loss at Holy Cross in the play in game of the ECAC Open Tournament on Wednesday evening.
Amanda Fontaine stopped 41 of the 45 shots she faced, but the Pioneers could not overcome two goals in both the first and second. SHU's season ends with a 7-15-3 record.
Holy Cross used an 18-3 first period shot advantage to skate out to the early lead. Nicole Giannino struck first just 6:20 into the game. Fontaine kept the Crusaders off the scoreboard for much of the remainder of the period, stopping effort after effort, but they finally broke through while on the power play. Mackenzie Boardman made the lead two 3:05 before the first intermission.
Early on in the second, again it was a power play that HCU took advantage of. Izzy Bagi stroked home another man advantage score with 14:48 on the clock. The Pioneers limited Holy Cross' shot total on net to just 13 in the second, but the score became 4-0 when Kara Violette netted an even strength goal with 3:27 to go in the period.
Skelley attempted to trigger a final rally with her goal 4:14 into the third. Megan Finlay and Brittany Smith both assisted on the score that came 21 seconds after SHU had just killed off a power play. The Pioneers would get five more attempts on net, but could not get one by Alexandra Stevenson.
For the game, the Crusaders outshot Sacred Heart 45-15. SHU had one more power play opportunity than Holy Cross, 5-4, but could not convert. Stevenson finished the game with 14 saves.
