Syracuse blown out at Robert Morris, slips to 3rd in conference
Ally Walsh | Staff Photographer
Ady Cohen was lit up for four goals in under 40 minutes of action.
Syracuse (10-20-3, 10-7-2 College Hockey America) was shutout, 5-0, on Friday night at Robert Morris (14-13-6, 12-4-3) in the first game of SU’s final weekend series of the regular season. The loss moves the Orange two points back of Mercyhurst for second place in the conference and a bye in the quarterfinals of the CHA tournament. RMU clinched the top spot in the conference with the victory.
After scoring 10 goals in two games last weekend against Lindenwood, SU’s offense was halted by Colonials goalie Arielle DeSmet, who made 25 saves. Defender Jessica DiGirolamo led the way with six shots for the Orange, and its leading scorer, Emma Polaski, had three.
The Colonials scored just under four minutes into the game. The Orange have struggled with penalties all season, and Brooke Avery took a high sticking call early on. On the ensuing power play, RMU capitalized via Amber Rennie, who also had a goal with a player advantage the last time the two played on Jan. 19.
RMU’s lead doubled 14 minutes into the first period. Anjelica Diffendal scored with assists coming from Rennie and the CHA’s leading scorer Jaycee Gebhard. Following a 3-2 overtime victory by the Orange in their first game against Robert Morris this season, SU head coach Paul Flanagan said a strong suit was limiting Gebhard’s opportunities. In the two games that have followed, it hasn’t held true with a hat-trick of assists in the Jan. 19 game and two more on Friday night.
Lexi Templeman, second in the CHA in points, and Natalie Marcuzzi potted two more goals in the second period to put the game out of reach for Syracuse. Kirsten Welsh tallied another power play marker in the third period after Flanagan pulled starting goalie Ady Cohen in favor of senior Maddi Welch.
Cohen earned the CHA Goalie of the Week award on Feb. 11 but has struggled since. The junior made 25 saves in the first of a home-and-home against RIT during a losing effort. The next day, she made 15 saves in a 1-1 tie. Last weekend, the Orange won in spite of Cohen giving up four goals on 16 shots. Head coach Paul Flanagan usually rides the “hot hand” in goalie, and on Friday, he used two goalies.
Syracuse will play its final regular season game at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Moon Township, Pennsylvania against RMU.
Published on March 1, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Contact Arabdho: armajumd@syr.edu | @aromajumder
