Senior co-captain Tyler McGregor had a goal and two assists as the Holy Cross men’s hockey team defeated Army 5-3 in Atlantic Hockey action on Saturday night at the Hart Center. With the win, the Crusaders improve to 3-0-0 (2-0-0 AHA), making it their best start since the 1993-94 season when they went 4-0-0 to start the season. Army is now 0-6-0 (0-2-0 AHA).
The Crusaders got on the board 23 seconds into the first period when sophomore defenseman Brian Gabriel scored his first goal of the year by blistering a shot from the far corner of the left faceoff circle past Army goalie Brad Roberts to give Holy Cross the early lead. Army came right back to tie the game when Tim Manthey scored a power play goal from just inside the blue line at the 2:23 mark. Just 41 seconds later McGregor gave the Crusaders back the lead when he tallied his first goal of the season.
In the second period, junior Sean Nappo extended the Holy Cross lead to 3-1 with a power-play goal at the 3:23 mark. The Black Knights cut the deficit in half with just under two minutes remaining in the period when, on the power play, Casey Bickley blasted a slap shot from in front of the net.
Sophomore Brian Kolb scored the eventual game winner right after an Army power play when he took off on a breakaway and placed the puck into the net pass Roberts at the 5:57 mark of the third period. Army made the game tight when Matt Hickey scored a shorthanded goal with 19 seconds remaining to make it 4-3. The Crusaders clinched the game when senior co-captain Pierre Napert-Frenette added an empty net goal with four seconds left.
Senior goaltender Ben Conway made 24 saves to earn his first win of the season, while Roberts also stopped 24 shots for the Black Knights.
The Crusaders return to action when they hit the road to take on Atlantic Hockey opponent Connecticut next weekend. Army heads Canisius next weekend.
