BOSTON — Coming off three consecutive series splits, including their first of conference play, Northeastern sought an unbeaten weekend for the first time this season as they hosted Holy Cross in the second leg of another series Saturday night in Matthews Arena.
Senior Taze Thompson produced another multi-point game, junior Lily Brazis notched her first collegiate goal, and freshman Lisa Jönsson stopped 17 shots in her first victory, as the Huskies felled the Crusaders 4-2 in their second third-period comeback in as many nights.
“It’s a good characteristic to have as a team,” said Head Coach Dave Flint, in reference to Northeastern coming up with another third period comeback. “Backs against the wall, came out flying in the third, and did what we had to do to pick up three big points.”
Holy Cross, historically among Hockey East’s basement dwellers, proved themselves fully capable of pushing Northeastern against that wall in Friday’s dramatic 4-4 tie, and fought just as hard on Saturday.
After winning just eight games in the 2023-24 season, the Crusaders have already picked up four wins this year and seemed all too eager to play up to the level of No. 13 Northeastern. Though the stats tilted heavily in Northeastern’s favor by the final horn, it was a closely contested hockey game. Holy Cross cemented their legitimacy by grabbing the game’s first goal towards the end of the second period, after the Huskies failed to clear a rebound following Mackenzie King’s wrister from the top of the circle.
After some sustained Northeastern pressure to open the third period, Thompson unlocked Holy Cross’s defense with a gorgeous cross-ice pass to junior Lily Shannon, who dutifully fired a shot past the outstretched glove of Crusader goalie Brooke Loranger. Less than three minutes later, Shannon turned into a provider, as Ella Blackmore made a nifty move to the slot following some cycling of the puck and deposited a wrist shot past the left pad of Loranger — giving the Huskies a lead they would not relinquish.
Although Holy Cross called a timeout and regrouped well — hitting a post just two minutes later — Brazis potted the game’s next goal, the first of her career, from a Holly Abela feed from behind the net with 7:24 remaining in the final stanza.
“Just want to make my family proud,” said Brazis, who pointed to her father in the stands after scoring. “The shakes are over … took a while but at least it’s over now.”
Holy Cross made it a one-goal game with 3:24 on the clock, as Emily Crovo continued a productive weekend by assisting Charlotte Sonntag’s tally, her first of the year. In front of freshman netminder Jönsson, the Huskies held strong for the final minutes, as the Swedish national goalie allowed just two goals for the second consecutive outing.
A Jaden Bogden empty-netter capped the scoring and ensured three points would stay on Huntington Avenue. Northeastern is now well in the midst of their conference schedule, and a victory in any form is a precious one for the Huskies. Although it was hardly comfortable, Fint was proud of a well-rounded, 60-minute team effort.
“It’s what you need in order to be successful,” he said.
Northeastern is next in action on Friday, when they travel to Schneider Arena to take on Providence College. WRBB will have coverage from Daisy Roberts and Zach Lyons on 104.9 FM. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.