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Ice hockey games are 60 minutes long. When you add the two 15-minute intermission periods plus clock stoppage, games typically last around two hours. For Syracuse this season, it has needed every minute of those two hours to win games. But this weekend, things were different.

The Orange entered Friday’s matchup against Robert Morris with nine special teams goals. But after a 4-1 win against the Colonials, SU officially hit double-digits on the statistic.

“Our game is moving into where it’s a little bit more physical, so that’s a game that we’re prepared for,” SU head coach Britni Smith said following Friday’s win. “When you’re looking at our special teams, that’s been a focus and they did a really good job.”

Syracuse’s special teams play has been a constant priority for a team that’s had more lows than highs. Capitalizing on opportunities that other teams present has allowed Syracuse to find the win column at a much better pace than last year.

On Saturday, Syracuse (7-12-0, 5-3-0 Atlantic Hockey America) continued to exploit those opportunities, defeating Robert Morris (5-12-1, 0-7-1 AHA) 4-1 with both a power play and penalty kill goal. Bryn Saarela continued to pace SU’s offensive attack, scoring both special teams goals to notch her fourth and fifth scores of the weekend.

Friday’s contest between the Orange and Colonials was very physical. The teams combined for eight penalties, but it was Syracuse’s shot selection that won it the game. Again, on Saturday, physicality was apparent. Each team committed four penalties, leading to constant advantages for both squads.

Just 2:19 into the first period, Heidi Knoll was penalized for tripping, leading to RMU’s first power play of the day. However, with Robert Morris’ last ranked power play percentage (.104) in the AHA, composure remained key for the Orange.

In the two minutes Knoll was sidelined, the Colonials tallied five shots, yet pristine defense by Jessica Cheung, along with numerous saves from Allie Kelley, kept the scoreboard blank.

The rest of the period was at even strength for both teams. In that time, Jackson Kinsler slapped one past Maggie Hatch to give SU a 1-0 lead, yet Smith was still upset with how her team played defense in the first half of the opening frame.

RMU’s first penalty at the 16:17 mark was a chance for Syracuse to regroup and find the back of the net to double its lead.

Mya Kearns was called for hooking, just a minor penalty that sidelined her for two minutes. But for a team on a hot streak, especially with a player like Saarela, two minutes was all Syracuse needed.

The Orange started the power play with four quick shots, but none struck past Hatch. That was until Sami Gendron found Kinsler up top. When receiving the puck, Kinsler quickly saw Saarela, sent it her way and Saarela, from a difficult angle, scored again.

“Just moving it around, getting them moving and then surprising them with a low attack like yesterday works,” Saarela said.

Despite one more penalty in the first period, neither team could convert, heading into frame two with Syracuse ahead 2-0.

Like the first period, special teams delivered moments for the Orange that kept them on top. Though Robert Morris’ Mya Neugent scored a power-play goal following a Carly Sardine penalty, Syracuse didn’t take much time to respond.

At 9:56, Jocelyn Fiala skated to the penalty box after a hooking call. The Colonials looked primed to tie the game at two apiece, yet with the way SU’s special teams unit had been playing, there was little chance that would happen. Instead, the Orange were able to extend their lead, continuing to punish RMU.

A mistake by Morgan Giannone put the puck in the clear toward RMU’s net. Saarela skated to it and, in a one-on-one situation, put her second goal of the day past Hatch.

The score was just Syracuse’s second penalty kill goal of the season, but it ended up being the finisher with RMU’s lousy offensive effort and SU’s aggressive backline.

“Penalty kill has been something this season that we can look to. Not always does that result in a goal, so great to get that shorthanded goal tonight,” Smith said. “That was the one that kind of solidified the win.”

The rest of the contest for Syracuse was emphatic. The Orange continued to pound Robert Morris’ defense, limiting its chances while also finding some of their own. Saarela’s two-score game was just her third multi-goal performance of the season. Syracuse’s fun didn’t stop after Saarela’s goal, though. With an open net, Peyton Armstrong launched one in to put the Orange up three.

Armstrong’s goal served as the cherry on top, yet it was the special teams unit that sealed the victory for Syracuse.

“Special teams is sometimes what wins games, especially in our league,” Saarela said. “Taking the opportunities to shut people down and then also gain some momentum off of that is big.”

Published on December 7, 2024 at 6:56 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_