Holy Cross stuns Salve Regina

Rutland, Vt. - On Friday, Holy Cross stunned Salve Regina on a goal by Nicole Giannino with 15 seconds left in regulation to stave off afurious Seahawk comeback winning 4-3 in the opening round of the Rutland Herald Invitational hosted by Castleton State College at Spartan Arena.

Izzy Bagi and Nicole Giannino, who had two points apiece, paced the Crusaders. Salve Regina was led by Michelle Holmes, Shelby Johnson, and Danielle Phalon, who each had two points. In net Krista Manzanares had 16 saves for Holy Cross and earned the win, while Colleen Marcik had 31 saves but took the loss in net for Salve Regina. 

In the first period the Crusaders got on the board first with a goal by Mary Klimasewski off a slick feed by Izzy Bagi. The Seahawksresponded in the second on a goal by Michelle Holmes, with Shelby Johnson and Danielle Phalon starting the attack and earning assists on the play. 

In the final frame the game hit a furious pace. Just three minutes into the third period, Salve Regina took the lead with a goal by Shannon Coleman to put the Seahawks up 2-1. The Crusaders answered right back a minute and half later on a power-play goal by Kylee Sullivan, to tie the game up at 2-2. With just about nine minutes left, Holy Cross added another goal by Rose Rather to go up by one, 3-2. The Seahawks responded with about five and a half minutes left on a Danielle Phalon goal set up by Shelby Johnson. 

The game seemed destined for overtime until a goal by Nicole Giannino gave Holy Cross the game-winner. Amanda Gallagher started off the play, and then passed off to Erin Hall, who fired a shot at Marcik. Giannino swept the rebound home to put Holy Cross on top for good. 

Salve Regina drops to 6-4-2 and will take on the University of New England Nor'easters tomorrow at 12. Holy Cross is now 7-5-0 and will face off against Castleton tomorrow at 3PM in the championship game of the Rutland Herald Invitational at Spartan Arena.