WORCESTER, Mass. - Senior assistant captain Ben Farrer (Calgary, Alberta) scored at 10:27 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie and lead the Providence College men's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Holy Cross Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass. With the win, Providence improved to 6-5-3 overall, while Holy Cross moved to 6-6-1.
Senior Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut, Calif.) scored his team leading ninth goal of the season to give the Friars a 1-0 lead at 15:17 of the first period. Classmate Eric Baier (North Kingstown, R.I.) fired a wrist shot on goal from the point that was saved by Holy Cross goalie Derek Kump, but MacKinnon was in front of the net and rifled home a wrist shot. Senior Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) also assisted of the goal.
Friar junior goalie Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ontario) made two point-blank saves early in the second period just as a Holy Cross power play expired to help PC maintain their one-goal advantage. However, with five seconds remaining in the second period, the Crusaders scored on a three-on-two rush to even the score at 1-1. Kyle Fletcher slid a pass in front to Andrew Cox who beat Beaudry at 19:55.
Farrer's goal happened after a Friar faceoff win in the Holy Cross zone. MacKinnon won the faceoff back to the point to senior Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) who ripped a one-timer that glanced off the outside left post. Farrer then collected the loose puck and skated in before lifting a wrist shot over Kump's right shoulder and into the net. It marked Farrer's career-high third goal of the season. Holy Cross pulled Kump for an extra skater with one minute remaining in the third period and the Friars were whistled for a tripping penalty with 29 seconds remaining giving the Crusaders a six-on-four power play. Beaudry made a right pad save on a shot from the slot by Everett Sheen with 17 seconds remaining and the Friars withstood the late pressure to earn the win. Beaudry finished 25 saves, while Kump had 38 stops.
The Friars are back in action on Friday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. when they play the first game of a two-game home series against Maine at Schneider Arena. Holy Cross will play at Air Force on December 3.