Halfway through the third period, down two goals, redshirt senior Brooke Avery cycled the puck back up to Jessica DiGirolamo at the point. The sophomore defenseman took one stride and flung a wrist shot which was deflected before reaching the net. On the ensuing scramble, Lauren Bellefontaine banged home the rebound for Syracuse’s second power play goal of the night.

Earlier, in the second period, DiGirolamo had scored off a slap shot from the point that beat a screened Mercyhurst goalie, Sarah McDonnell.

“It was a nice outlet pass from Brooke [Avery],” DiGirolamo said, “And then everybody was screening in front of the net, so I just took a slapshot from the point, and it ended up going in.”

The two goals weren’t enough for the Orange as Mercyhurst (1-4-0, 1-0-0 College Hockey America) won, 4-2, Friday night at the Tennity Ice Rink. But both Syracuse (0-2-0, 0-1-0) special teams played well, the penalty kill giving up just one goal on five chances and the power play unit going 2-4.

Syracuse head coach, Paul Flanagan, pointed to the puck movement as a key factor for their success on the power play, picking out a pair of freshman forwards that both contributed an assist.

“That young group, primarily Bellefontaine and [Abby] Moloughney, they worked that puck around,” Flanagan said. “DiGirolamo, that was a shot that I don’t think the goalie saw — Brooke was in front screening. That unit was just doing a good job of moving the puck and doing what they’re supposed to do.”

After just one penalty in the first period that carried over into the second, each team had three opportunities on the man advantage in the middle period. Both sides converted once.

But Flanagan pointed to one that Syracuse didn’t score on as a turning point for the game. A minute-long 5-on-3 power play four minutes into the second period was a crucial chance for the Orange to get Mercyhurst back on their heels Flanagan said, but they couldn’t capitalize.

Syracuse tested McDonnell three times during the 5-on-3, but all the shots were fought off by the senior netminder.  

“5-on-3, it’s agonizing sometimes to watch because they just want that perfect play because we have all kinds of time,” he said. “I just think they were trying to be so precise…What we need to work on is being a little more reactive and instinctive like we are on our 5-on-4.”

Published on October 12, 2018 at 11:42 pm

Contact Arabdho: armajumd@syr.edu | @aromajumder