Holy Cross women’s hockey is heading into their 2026-27 opener this Friday against Delaware at 7 p.m., but the big story isn’t just the first puck drop, it’s the insane foundation they laid last year. The Crusaders absolutely blew up last season, winning 19 games and setting program records with 10 Hockey East victories and a massive 37 Hockey East points. They even crashed the Hockey East semifinals for the first time ever, which is just wild.
No More Underdogs: Holy Cross Is Officially on the Map
This team didn’t just win games, they straight up made history. Holy Cross became the first women’s team in school history to get nationally ranked at the Division 1 level, spending four weeks chilling in the USCHO poll. Can you believe it? The D1 stage knows their name now. Coach Katie Lachapelle, who’s been crushing it for eight years, was even honored as the Hockey East and Division 1 Women’s New England Coach of the Year, and the school locked her up with an extension through 2030-31. When she says, “It’s great to sit back and think about what we did, but now it’s, ‘How do we make it better?’” you know this team isn’t resting on its laurels. That ambition? It’s everything.
The Core Is Back and Ready to Run It
So, who’s gonna make it better? A ton of familiar faces, that’s who! Holy Cross is bringing back 19 players from that record-setting squad, plus eight fresh faces. Keep an eye on new goaltenders Livia Debnarova and Jorinde Heller, and the speedy forward Manuela Heidenberger. Coach Lachapelle is already hyped, saying, “We’ve looked really good in practice. We’re figuring out who’s going to step up and navigating how it looks with a sophomore and two freshmen goalies. Our freshmen bring a ton of energy and they are going to help us. Our returners are looking great.” Leading the charge offensively are sophomore Violet Carroll, who racked up 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points, and Naemi Herzig with 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. Oh, and Herzig? She just helped her native Switzerland grab a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Seriously, this roster is stacked! Senior forwards Emily Crovo (5-14-19), Lulu Rourke (7-9-16), and Reghan Chadwick (7-6-13) are all set to be key contributors too. This team isn’t just about scoring, though; they ranked eighth in the nation and third in Hockey East with a stingy 1.84 team goals against average. That’s defense, baby!
Pressure Makes Diamonds: What’s Next For the Crusaders
Lachapelle hit the nail on the head when talking about last year’s experience: “They learned how to win last year with that target on our back for a little bit in January being nationally ranked. It was a surprising to not be the underdog because that’s always been our thing. To have the experience of feeling that different pressure will be a huge growth moment if we feel that again.” They know what it feels like to have expectations, to not be the dark horse, and that’s invaluable. This team is built for it. So, get ready to see what “making it better” looks like when they host Delaware this Friday. The stage is set for Holy Cross to prove last season was just the beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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