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Holy Cross beats #4 Siena 5-3

            On Tuesday January 24^th the Crusaders geared up for an important game against a higher ranked Central Connecticut State University. The Crusaders were fresh off of a two game win-streak against important NECHA opponents UConn and WPI. The Crusaders have seemed to have found that jump in their step they were missing in the first semester’s campaign. The power-play was beginning to click and the Crusaders were playing all around good hockey. The boys in purple realize that they still have a long road ahead of them on route to the league, regional and national tournaments.

            The puck dropped at 7:00 P.M EST in front of, yet another, sold out Hart Center crowd. The game began back and forth until CCSU took a costly penalty which allowed Brendan “I date older women” Webb to boom a powerplay goal past the goalie on a impeccable pass from Justin “All Swede no Finish” Martin and Frank “Ernest P. Whirl” Powers. CCSU quickly put an end to the Crusader’s celebrations adding one of their own from their sniper Josh Manoian. The tie game was quickly outlived as Will “I Use a Green Stick” Buxton continued his scoring streak, with helpers being credited to his esteemed line-mates Paul “I <3 Abs” Riley and Joe “The Train” Mantovani. The goal came with only 10 seconds left in the first period giving the Crusaders some much needed momentum going into the second period of play. The Crusaders came out and widened the gap to two goals only three minutes into the period on a goal from Ryan “Leo” Leonard on an apple coming from yours truly and Andrew “Man of Few Words” Doherty. CCSU would have none of that however, as they stormed back and Manoian buried his second of the game setting the score at 3 to 2 in favor of the Crusaders. The Crusaders did not stop there however, as Doherty added a goal from the “New York Connection,” Connolly and Ayres. CCSU then added another notch from Shana, yet it wasn’t enough as the Crusaders rallied for another goal from Buxton, his second of the game, helped by Mantovani and Riley. “Mr. Hockey” himself, Connolly, added the empty net goal to seal the deal. After the big win the Crusaders could get anything but cocky as they faced a, yet again, higher seeded team than themselves in Siena on Friday night.

            The Crusaders arrived at the infamous Siena arena that is located practically on the Albany Airport’s runway. The Cross entered this game on a mission, to come away with another win against Siena, this time delivering the loss in Siena’s backyard. The Crusaders displayed just that as they struck early and often. Paul Riley tallied the first goal of the game on a feed from Buxton and Mantovani just four minutes into the game. The onslaught did not stop there as the Crusaders added another only four minutes after their first on a goal from Mantovani assisted by Riley and Ayres. Siena struck next, as Minio added a goal for the Saints putting them within one goal of the Crusaders. Brendan Webb decided that a one goal lead was not comfortable enough for the Crusaders to enter the second period with, so he notched one of his own, coming unassisted. The second period than began with a lot of back and forth hockey, while Orlando of Siena struck first at 12 minutes into the second period, again bringing the game with in one. Webb, who obviously strongly dislikes one goal leads, scored for his second time on a phenomenal power play opportunity set up by the playmaker himself, Justin Martin. The period then drew to a close with both teams exchanges scoring opportunities especially as Siena displayed their ability to play an effective power play that the Crusaders penalty kill needed to adjust to quickly and just as effectively. The Crusaders entered the third period with a two goal advantage, however, Kevin “The Man” Connolly decided to get his name on the score sheet on a beautiful set up from Doherty who was hit with an unbelievable, rink wide, sauce bomb from Martin. The Crusaders scoring stopped there as the Saints added one more of their own from Ryan, however it was not enough, as the Crusaders were victorious for the fourth consecutive time in four games this semester. The “W” did not come easily as Pete Bartline played a phenomenal game between the pipes making 42 stops, many of those scintillating saves came on Siena’s dangerous power play. Bartline stood his ground and played excellent, proving his value to the Crusaders recent victorious ways. 

            The Crusaders have another big weekend as they face-off against CCSU once more and travel to Long Island to play the number one ranked Stony Brook team. Hopefully the boys in purple and black can manage to stay clear of the penalty box and continue their winning ways.