SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The third-seeded College of the Holy Cross women's ice hockey team won this year's Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Open Tournament hosted by fifth-seeded Saint Michael's College after beating top-seeded Franklin Pierce University, 4-1, on Sunday at Cairns Arena. The Crusaders, now winners of five ECAC Open Tournament titles, wrap up their season at 18-7-3, while the Ravens slipped to 20-6-1.

In the consolation game held earlier in the day, Saint Michael's fell to second-seeded Saint Anselm College, 5-0. The Purple Knights close out their season at 5-20-1, while the Hawks moved to 18-6-2.

Saint Michael's sophomore Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./The Rivers School) made 31 saves in 53:07 before being relieved by classmate Erica Ragazzo (Mansfield, Ursuline Academy), who made two stops in 6:47. Senior Maire Bartkus (Acton, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) was named to the all-tournament team.

First-year Jackie Guy (Saint Louis, Mo./Boston Shamrocks) registered two goals for Saint Anselm, while sophomore Alison Quinn (Canton, Mass./Southfield) had one goal and one assist. Sophomores Victoria Shea (Middleton, Mass./Saint Mark's School) and Alex Starzyk (Enfield, Conn./Williston Northampton) both chipped in a goal. Starzyk earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Senior Lindsey Brown (Mounds View, Minn./Ohio State) collected 16 saves for the shutout.

Just 27 seconds into the consolation game, Saint Michael's was awarded a power-play chance and senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) wristed a shot off the crossbar at 1:41. During its first power-play chance, sophomore Meghan Spurling (Byfield, Mass./Brewster Academy) fed a pass from the low in the left circle to Guy, who fired a point shot that found its way through traffic and low to the right side of the net at 2:54. The Hawks added to their lead at 8:09 when senior Sabrina Iannetti (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) dished a cross-ice pass to Shea, whose snapshot from the left circle beat Burke blocker side. The Purple Knights then threatened with a trio of shots, including two by sophomore Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) from low in the slot at 15:50. Saint Anselm finished the period with a 16-9 edge in shots.

The Hawks continued their offensive surge in the second period with two goals on 17 shots. While skating 4-on-4, Quinn circled behind the net and stuffed in a backhanded shot between Burke's right leg pad and the post at 8:56. Saint Anselm challenged Burke with eight more shots before registering a goal 17:02 when Quinn and Starzyk both crashed the net, with Starzyk burying home the puck off of a rebound from Quinn's shot. The third period tempo slowed compared to the first two stanzas, as both teams combined for one goal on eight shots. At the 4:44 mark, Quinn dished a pass from the low left boards to Guy, who snapped a shot high blocker side for her second goal of the game. The Purple Knights got their final offensive charge from first-year Jillian Witwicki (Danvers, Mass./Pingree School), who scurried into the zone and wristed a shot that was saved chest high by Brown with one minute remaining in the game.

Holy Cross secured its title feat with first-year Kara Violette (Biddeford, Maine/Saint Mark's) posting one goal and two assists, while senior Mary Klimasewiski (Colchester, Conn./Saint George's School), sophomore Izzy Bagi (Branford, Conn./The Gunnery) and first-year Lauren Abbenante (Cranston, R.I./Worcester Academy) each scoring. Senior Alexandra Stevenson (Norwood, N.Y./Loomis Chaffe) stopped 23 shots en route to claiming the most outstanding player of the tournament honor. Bagi and Klimasewiski also picked up all-tournament selections.

First-year Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn./Minnesota Blades) scored for Franklin Pierce and was chosen to the all-tournament team and sophomore Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass./Middlesex Islanders) made 26 saves in the loss.

After coming off a six-goal performance in Saturday's semifinal, Franklin Pierce jumped out to the first lead of Sunday's final when junior Bryana Harron's (Woburn, Mass./Woburn) shot was stopped but the rebound kicked to Brolsma, who jammed in the puck to the right side of the net at 11:41. Holy Cross responded with a pair of shots at 18:10, including a shot from junior Taylor McGee (Pearl River, N.Y./Taft School) from low in the slot that was blocked by a Raven defender who was covering the open net after O'Neil was caught out of position. The Crusaders got on the board with 32.3 seconds left in the period after Abbenante skated into the zone and backhanded a shot over O'Neil's left shoulder.

With Stevenson recording 11 stops through the first 10 minutes of the second period, Holy Cross broke the stalemate while on the power play when Klimasewiski stuffed in a rebound to left side from Violette's shot at 10:39.The Crusaders capitalized again with the player advantage as Bagi slammed in the puck at 17:23 after a scramble in front of the crease. Holy Cross finished a perfect 2-for-2 on the power play, while Franklin Pierce was unable to convert on four player-advantage chances. Trailing 3-1 midway through the final stanza, the Ravens clicked off a trio of shots at 11:15 that included junior Karsyn Baker's (Detroit, Mich./Belle Tire) near tip-in chance low in the slot. The Crusaders, though, increased the margin to 4-1 after Violette tucked the puck into the low left corner at 13:19. Franklin Pierce closed out the game with a 48-second power-play opportunity, but the Ravens had a pair shots blocked by the Crusader defense.

2015 ECAC Open Tournament

Team Champion
College of the Holy Cross

Most Outstanding Player
Alexandra Stevenson, Holy Cross

All-Tournament Team
Alexandra Stevenson, Holy Cross (MOP)
Izzy Bagi, Holy Cross
Mary Klimasewiski, Holy Cross
Alex Brolsma, Franklin Pierce
Sarah Sheils, Franklin Pierce
Alex Starzyk, Saint Anselm
Maire Bartkus, Saint Michael's