BOSTON - The Boston University women's ice hockey team was edged by Holy Cross, 2-1, on Friday evening at Walter Brown Arena in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Junior Ani FitzGerald opened the scoring five minutes into the game on a shot from beyond the Holy Cross blue line but the Crusaders got a pair in the second period to turn the tables and went on to hold off the Terriers down the stretch.

BU moves to 11-12-3 on the season and 9-9-1 in Hockey East play. Holy Cross, which improves to 6-16-2 with a 3-13-2 conference mark, got the game-winning goal from Bryn Saarela, who also assisted on the team's first tally.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• FitzGerald opened the scoring exactly five minutes into the game when her blast from beyond the blue line tipped off a Holy Cross defender before sneaking past Brooke Loranger for an early BU lead.
• The Terrier committed three first-period penalties but the penalty kill was successful each time to extend its streak to 27 straight kills.
• A turnover along the right boards led to an equalizer by the Crusaders as Saarela stole the puck and found Alexia Moreau, who found space in the slot before finding the back of the net at the 10:08 mark of the second.
• On the Crusaders' fourth and final power-play chance of the game, Saarela converted from the foot of the left circle after receiving the puck from Lane Lewis, who corralled a tipped pass.
• The goal, which came with 3:57 left in the second, gave Holy Cross a 2-1 lead and snapped the Terriers' successful penalty-kill streak at 27.
• BU held a 13-5 shot advantage the rest of the way.
• The Terriers had the lone power-play chance of the third but were unable to muster an equalizer.
• BU pulled freshman goaltender Mari Pietersen in favor of an extra skater for the final 2:48 and quickly set up a look for sophomore Brooke Disher, but her shot hit the post.
• The Terriers recorded two more shots on goal but could not get another shot past Loranger.

GAME NOTES

• FitzGerald now has three goals in the past four games.
• BU held a 29-22 advantage in shots as Loranger had a 28-save performance.
• Pietersen made 21 saves in goal for the Terriers.
• BU went 0-for-5 on the power play while the visitors were 1-for-4,
• Freshman Ella Huntley and senior Madison Cardcai earned assists on FitzGerald's goal.
• Senior Tamara Giaquinto and freshman Alex Law tied for the game high in shots with four.
• BU now leads this year's Turnpike Trophy standings by a score of 5-2.

UP NEXT

• The two teams will wrap up their season series on Saturday (Jan. 27) at the Hart Center Rink.
• Game time in Worcester is set for 7 p.m.