WORCESTER, Mass. – The 14th-ranked Vermont women's hockey team fell 2-1 at Holy Cross Saturday afternoon in both teams Hockey East opener. The Crusaders scored two first period goals and held on to preserve the win.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We got out worked and out played in the first period and that was the difference in this game," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "We got better as the game went on but it was too little, too late against a team that was playing hard and blocking shots. It's an early season lesson for us and we will be ready to play tomorrow."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crusaders opened the scoring 8:47 into the first period. Darci Johal cut into the slot and got a dangerous backhand away, it was stopped by Vermont's Jessie McPherson but it came right to Mary Edmonds who put it home for her second goal of the season.
• With 7:23 to go in the opening period Holy Cross doubled its advantage with Carly Beniek's first goal of the season. She was able to bat a loose puck in front of the net past McPherson.
• Theresa Schafzahl cut the Crusaders lead in half 5:59 into the middle frame. At the Holy Cross blueline Natálie Mlynková fed a great pass, splitting two defenders, to Schafzahl to send her in alone on Holy Cross' goaltender. Schafzahl deked to her backhand and slid the puck home for her third goal of the season.
• Vermont outshot the Crusaders 12-2 in the second frame but couldn't solve Holy Cross' Madison Beck.
• Beck made an additional 15 saves in the third period to preserve the upset win for the Crusaders.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With her goal today Theresa Schafzahl tied Amanda Pelkey (2011-15) with 105 career points, the most by a Catamount.
• Eveylne Blais-Savoie won 11 of the 14 faceoffs she took Saturday afternoon.
• Holy Cross was credited with 22 blocked shots Saturday. 

UP NEXT
The two teams will face off again on Sunday at 3 p.m. from Hart Center Rink. It will once again air live on ESPN+. The game will also be available on a pay-per-view basis internationally at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program