Billy Fitzpatrick ‘20
Editor-in-Chief

With winter sports season nearing its final few weeks and some spring sports already underway, let’s take a look around campus to see how Holy Cross athletics has been faring in competition recently… 

Note: All stats and records updated as of Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Men’s Ice Hockey

The Holy Cross men’s hockey team (10-15-5 overall, 9-12-3 Atlantic Hockey) split a two-game series against Robert Morris in Worcester last weekend in Atlantic Hockey competition. On Friday night, the Crusaders used an explosive first period to set them up for a 5-3 win. Goals from senior Patrick O’Leary (his first of the season), sophomores Conner Jean and Ryan Leibold in the opening frame set HC up for a comfortable win. Leibold added another goal in the second period, while senior Will Brophy sealed the win late in the third with a goal of his own. First-year goalie Matt Radomsky stopped 33 shots. 

On Saturday night, the visitors got revenge and went travelling back to Pennsylvania with a series split. First-year Alex Peterson opened the scoring for the Crusaders in the first period, but the Colonials answered to tie the game at one apiece heading into the second frame. Robert Morris scored twice after controlling much of the second period, but senior Charlie Barrow temporarily kept Holy Cross in the game by scoring with 0.3 seconds left in the period, a crucial time for his first goal of the season. HC could not capitalize, however, as the visitors doubled their lead with eight minutes remaining and never looked back. 

Women’s Ice Hockey

Last weekend, the Holy Cross women’s ice hockey team (5-21-5 overall, 5-18-2 Hockey East) notched its second series sweep of the season, topping Vermont on both Saturday and Sunday. In the first game, a late goal secured a 2-1 win for the Crusaders. After a goalless first period, senior Maggie Hallisey opened the scoring for HC, but UVM responded later in the period to tie the game heading into the final frame. The two sides played for more than 18 minutes before a game-winner was scored. Sophomore Carlie Magier tapped in after senior Rachel Moore pushed the puck across the ice and found Magier in the slot. Sophomore Jada Brenon recorded 40 saves to keep the Crusaders in the game.

On Sunday, Holy Cross dominated early on, out-shooting the Catamounts 12-5 in the opening period, but could not find a goal in the opening period. First-year Mary Edmonds gave HC a well-deserved lead when she rifled in a low shot midway through the second frame. The Crusader defense held the lead the rest of the way, and junior Katie MacCuaig scored on an empty net with 31 seconds remaining to seal the deal. Junior Julia Pelletier earned the shutout in goal for the Crusaders, making 29 saves.

Baseball

The Holy Cross baseball team (0-3) dropped its season-opening series against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. last weekend. The Gamecocks (3-0) used a six-run first inning to set the tone for the first game of the series, a 10-0 win for the hosts. Four first-years (Jake McOsker, Jack DiLauro, Connor Crotty, and Ban Talbot) made their collegiate debuts, combining for eight strikeouts, one run, and two hits in six innings of work. In Saturday’s game, South Carolina again established an early lead, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. The Crusaders responded the next half-inning with three runs of their own. Senior center fielder Austin Masel tripled to lead off the interview and was brought in on a groundout by junior right fielder David Kale. Senior Riley Livingston hit a double, and first-year left fielder Ben Dellacono homered to cut the score to 5-3. After South Carolina tacked on four more runs, junior Cam Meyer hit a solo homer to lead off the eighth. HC later loaded the bases with one out but couldn’t capitalize, and the Gamecocks held on to win 9-4. On Sunday, Holy Cross was shut out 5-0 in a weather-shortened game that went four-and-a-half innings. South Carolina loaded the bases in the third and scored four runs on a hit by pitch, an infield single, a bases-loaded walk, and another hit by pitch. The hosts added another run the following inning on a solo homer.

Men’s Lacrosse

The Holy Cross men’s lacrosse team (3-1) got back to winning ways last weekend with a close 10-9 win over Vermont at Kuzniewski Field in Worcester. It was the program’s first win over UVM since 2013. First-year Dean DiNanno and senior Justin Lynskey paced the Crusaders, with each tallying a hat trick. HC led 2-0 after the first period behind goals from Lynskey and fellow senior Sean Mullaney. In the second quarter, Vermont responded to an HC goal by scoring twice in quick succession to pull within one, but HC rallied to enter halftime with a 6-3 advantage. In the third, the Catamounts brought the score to 7-5, but senior Connor Waldron responded with a goal to put HC up 8-5 entering the fourth quarter. After DiNanno put HC up 9-5, three Vermont goals cut the Crusader lead to just one with about seven minutes remaining. However, Lynskey capped off his hat trick 30 seconds later to bring the lead back to two. Vermont scored with 90 seconds remaining but couldn’t pull off a comeback as the HC defense held strong. Mullaney led the Crusaders with five points, and senior goalie Jonathan Tesoro posted 11 saves in net.

The Crusaders eked out a 13-12 overtime win at home over UMass Lowell on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Holy Cross found itself in a hole down 3-0 early, but responded with four goals in the first quarter to hold a one-goal advantage after 15 minutes. Lynskey scored twice, Mullaney added one, and sophomore Will Spangenberg tacked on his first of the season. HC extended its lead in the second quarter, scoring another four goals (including two from senior Kevin Kodzis) to the Riverhawks’ one, entering halftime with a 8-4 lead. An explosive, back-and-forth third period saw each side add four goals apiece, with Spangenberg and Kodzis finding the back of the net again and senior Dan O’Connell connecting twice. However, Lowell rattled off four goals in the fourth quarter, including the equalizer with 21 seconds remaining, to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, Mullaney secured the win for Holy Cross by scoring his third goal of the day and seventh of the season, giving the Crusaders a two-game winning streak.

Women’s Lacrosse

The Holy Cross women’s lacrosse team (2-0) continued its strong start to the season last Sunday with a commanding 13-5 home win over UMass-Lowell. Sophomore Jolie Creo, coming off a five-point outing against Fairfield that earned her ckSmith Superior Crusader of the Week honors, again led the Crusaders with five goals. After UMass-Lowell opened the scoring in the first period, HC rallied and held a 5-2 lead at the half. The Crusaders scored seven unanswered goals to open the second half, putting the game out of reach. Senior Bryn Carroll, sophomore Izzy Grant, sophomore Mairead Anderson, junior Shannon Dudeck, and Creo all scored during that run. First-year goalie Grace Flink posted 18 saves for Holy Cross. This is the first time the program has opened a season 2-0 since 2006.