Junior Aly McLeod netted two goals and Caitlin Whitehead picked up her first win of the season between the pipes, as the St. Lawrence University women's hockey team defeated Holy Cross 2-1 in game one of the NCAA Ice Breaker Tournament in Lake Placid, N.Y. on Friday afternoon.

"We had to work very hard for that win and it feels good," said head coach Chris Wells. "We had a lot of solid efforts throughout the game, plenty of opportunities and chances."

After a scoreless first period of play, the Scarlet and Brown held a 25-10 lead in shots including 11-5 in shots on goal. 

Early in the second, Melissa Jefferies sent a shot just wide of the crossbar, and Julia Gosling picked up a Holy Cross turnover and fired a shot right to the chest of Madison Beck for another solid opportunity, but the game remained scoreless.

It was the Saints that hit the scoreboard first, as Abby Hustler carried the puck through the neutral zone and originally looked to Hillary Sterling in the slot. Sterling took the first shot and McLeod buried the rebound to put the Saints up 1-0 at 15:35.

Sterling looked for a goal of her own with just over a minute remaining in the second period, just sent the tip from McLeod just wide.

Whitehead kept the Crusaders off the board with a breakaway save, but just moments later, Sofia Smithson snuck one past Whitehead in a scramble to tie the game 1-1.

Just over a minute later, McLeod would net her second of the game to put the Saints back in control. Sterling would also add her second assist, as she found McLeod just outside the crease for the one timer.

"Our line played well tonight," said McLeod. "The second goal, we were able to win the draw, Snowy picked it up and I just went to the net. The puck popped to me and I was able to score."
 
"Aly's line had a very good two game set vs. Syracuse and they were able to carry that over to today," Wells added. "That line has scored our last three goals. The team supported Whitey in net and she made some nice saves when she had to as Holy Cross was able to generate some Chances on us. It will be fun to play for a Championship tomorrow!"

The Saints successfully killed off a Holy Cross power play, where the Crusaders played 6-on-4 after pulling Beck for the final minute of the game.

St. Lawrence finished with a 77-32 advantage in shots, including 36-16 on goal.

The Saints improved to 4-3-0 on the season, while Holy Cross fell to 2-5-0.

The Scarlet and Brown will advance to the NCAA Ice Breaker Championship game, tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Lake Placid. St. Lawrence will face the winner of the second matchup between Syracuse and Clarkson.