Ben Lepper ’25
Chief Sports Editor
The word of the season was parity. From Providence’s Matt Kelly to Holy Cross’ Katie Lachapelle, every single coach in Hockey East would use the word parity when discussing the conference this past season. Every team was good, and no team could be overlooked. This certainly includes the Holy Cross Crusaders. On paper, they recorded a last-place finish in Hockey East. But, on the ice, they looked like a dominant, gritty team who played their hearts out for 60 minutes every single time. However, potential and effort didn’t matter when it came to playoff seeding.
Holy Cross ended up as the #10 seed in the playoffs and would have to play in the play-in round. During the last weekend of play, it seemed fairly likely that the Crusaders would be traveling to Maine or Vermont. But then, their best case scenario happened: Boston University dropped both games of their weekend set, locking them in as the #7 seed. The Crusaders wanted this, as they had gone 2-1 against the Terriers in the 2023-2024 season. Plus, it saved them from a rough mid-week bus ride to Orono or Burlington, and they would just have to take a quick trip down the Mass Pike.
As the #7 seed, BU entered the contest on February 28th as the favorites. But, as soon as the game started, it was obvious that betting favorites meant nothing in this contest, as Lane Lewis scored almost 30 seconds in. BU would respond twice in the first period with goals from Tamara Giaquinto and Julia Shaunessy, giving them a one-goal lead heading into the final minute of the period. Just before intermission, Alexia Moreau tied the game back up and sent both teams to their first break.
Once both teams came back out from intermission, the Crusaders put their foot down on the gas and never let go. Moreau would score a second time in the second period, and Millie Sirum would score in the third. Moreau’s two goals would end up earning her Crusader of the Week honors.
Holy Cross’ goaltending was also a major difference in the game. Madison Beck stopped 29 shots in the last two periods alone, saving 37 out of 39 shots in total. On the other side, BU goalie Callie Shanahan had a rough game, letting in a fourth of the shots she faced. No matter how well your offense plays, if you put up a .750 in net, you probably won’t be winning the game. And, that is exactly what happened: the Crusaders emerged victorious by a score of 4-2.
While the Crusaders’ season would end later that week in Storrs against the top-seeded #11 UConn Huskies, loads of credit must be given to this team. It felt like this would be the team that finally broke through, and lo and behold, they did. After an arduous re-tool to get the program up to Hockey East’s speed, it seems like they’ve finally made it.
Obviously, the team is going to look different next year. Sirum and Beck will not return, and neither will Bryn Saarela, Grace Johnson, Vaia Graves, or Lily Feeney. It is now up to the youth to continue their development and take this program to the next level. But, based on the start to Moreau and Lewis’ career, as well as the continued improvement of the juniors, they will be in a position to build off of this victory and reach new heights next season.
Congratulations once again to the Women’s Hockey team for a fun season, and we look forward to seeing you in action again next year!
Featured Image Courtesy of Holy Cross Women’s Ice Hockey Instagram
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