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Freshman forward Millie Sirum had two goals and an assist for the Crusaders
Holy Cross Skates Past New Hampshire, 5-2
Freshman forward Millie Sirum had two goals and an assist for the Crusaders

WORCESTER, Mass. - Three power play goals and 49 saves from Jada Brenon lifted the Holy Cross women's hockey team to 5-2 victory over New Hampshire Wednesday night at the Hart Center Rink. The win goes down has the program's first ever over the Wildcats.

Millie Sirum led the way offensively with a pair of goals and one assist. Bryn Saarela and Emma Lange also had three points on the night as Saarela scored once and had two helpers and Lange assisted three times. Carly Beniek and Lilly Feeney had the Crusaders' other two goals on the night.

Brenon's 49 saves were a season-high and the most she has stopped since making 51 saves against Vermont last February. The junior netminder played perhaps her best game of the season as she was able to see the puck extremely well all night and made a number of impressive saves.


HOW IT HAPPENED:

1-0 HC (1st, 12:29, PP): Off a faceoff win by Mary Edmonds, Saarela put a shot on goal and Sirum was there to deposit the rebound.

2-0 HC (1st, 19:20, EV): Sirum repaid the favor as she fed a pass across the crease to a waiting Saarela who doubled the Crusaders' lead.

3-0 HC (2nd, 9:48, EV): Beniek got her second of the year when she received a pass from Sofia Smithson and fired it by the UNH goalie from the slot.

3-1 UNH (2nd, 10:19, EV): The Wildcats took advantage of a friendly rebound of their own to get their first of the night.

4-1 HC (3rd, 11:13, PP): Sirum was in the right place at the right time again as she took a rebound off a shot from Antonia Matzka and scored her second of the night.

4-2 UNH (3rd, 14:57, PP): UNH cut the lead to two with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

5-2 HC (3rd, 19:45, PP, EN): Feeney added an empty-net goal late to seal the victory for the Crusaders.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- It was the first three-point night in the careers of Sirum, Saarela, and Lange. Saarela is currently on a five-game point streak, while Sirum has recorded a point in the last four.

- Holy Cross special teams were clicking tonight as it went 3-for-3 on the power play and was perfect on the penalty kill until giving one up late. On the night, they killed six of the seven penalties they faced, including over a minute of a 5-on-3.


UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will travel to Vermont this weekend to take on the Catamounts in two games, the first of which will be this Friday, Jan. 1 at 6 p.m.

Game Summary

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

2
5
Game statistics
51 Shots 30
1 / 7 Power Plays 3 / 3
4 / 8 PIM 8 / 16
3-7-0 Records 3-5-0
GOAL SCORERS
New Hampshire Holy Cross
Millie Sirum (2)
1st/12:29 PP
Bryn Saarela (4)
1st/19:20
Carly Beniek (2)
2nd/9:48  GW
Charli Kettlye (1)
2nd/10:19
Millie Sirum (3)
3rd/11:13 PP
Jada Christian (4)
3rd/14:57 PP
Lilly Feeney (1)
3rd/19:45 PP EN
GOALTENDERS
New Hampshire Holy Cross
Ava Boutilier
56:51, 25 Saves, 4 GA
(L, 3-5-0)

Empty Net
3:09, 1 GA
Jada Brenon
59:56, 49 Saves, 2 GA
(W, 3-4-0)

Empty Net
0:04, 0 GA