Three points in two wins against Mercyhurst a couple of weekends ago earned Abby Moloughney College Hockey America Freshman of the Week honors. She was part of a Syracuse trio that swept that week’s CHA awards along with defender Allie Munroe and goalie Ady Cohen. The recognition gave her a “little boost,” she said.

“I definitely take pride in it, and I think it’s good motivation to keep going,” Moloughney said.

It also gave her more confidence, which was showcased Friday night in overtime against Lindenwood. Taken down on a breakaway attempt 41 seconds into the extra period, Moloughney earned a penalty shot. She took it cooly, roofing a forehand shot past Lindenwood goalie Sophie Wolf.

This weekend, she eclipsed her performances versus Mercyhurst. In two games against Lindenwood (7-20-3, 3-13-2 College Hockey America), Moloughney scored three goals, including the penalty shot game-winner on Friday, and assisted on two more. Her five points helped Syracuse (10-19-3, 10-6-2) sweep the Lions at home and grab a 5-1 win on Saturday’s senior day celebration at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

“Coming off of a big win (on Friday), especially that penalty shot, it gave me a lot of energy to come back in the next day and get some more,” Moloughney said.

Her two-goal night moved Moloughney to 18 points for the season, leading all CHA freshman. Her collegiate career started slow, as she tallied nine points in her first 25 games. But starting with the Orange’s last nonconference game against Cornell on Jan. 29, she’s racked up nine points in her last seven games.

On Saturday, neither side scored in the first 20 minutes, and the freshman took a stick to her ribs early in the second period. Moloughney curled up on the ice and had to be helped to the SU bench where she turned away from the action to allow the trainer to ice and wrap the injured area.

She missed a few shifts, but a little over halfway into the second frame, she took a cross-crease pass from Emma Polaski and slid home a shot to put the Orange up 3-1.

“You try and kind of forget about it (the injury) and don’t let it affect your play too much,” Moloughney said.

Another goal in the middle period gave SU a 4-1 lead heading into the third. The Orange sat back, playing safe to avoid giving up another multi-goal lead in the final period. A late power play gave the Orange offensive zone possession though, and Moloughney capitalized. She fired a soft shot from the top of the faceoff circle at the net, and the Lindenwood goalie didn’t get enough of her glove on it to keep it out.

Her scoring outburst has come in tandem with being placed on a line containing fellow freshman Lauren Bellefontaine and Polaski. Moloughney played with Bellefontaine for many years growing up in the same area of Ontario, and the two were part of the same Nepean Jr. Wildcats program before coming to Syracuse. Earlier in the season, Moloughney said she always knows where Bellefontaine will be on the ice.

Polaski complements the two playmakers as Syracuse’s leading goal-scorer (11). On Saturday, she made the pass to Moloughney for a goal, but typically, it’s the other way around. Moloughney’s second assist on Friday night led to a Polaski goal.

“You find who you’re comfortable playing with, and you just bounce off of each other,” Moloughney said. “And if it works well, then why not keep it.”

Syracuse’s five seniors all received flowers and posed for a picture together before Saturday’s game. It was the final home game of their careers. During it, Moloughney, part of the next generation of Orange talent, earned high-fives from the bench and pats on her head for putting the puck in the back of the net. A glimpse at what Syracuse holds beyond this season.

“Right when I saw her first play, I knew she was gonna be a special player, so I’m not even surprised honestly,” Munroe said. “… I’m going to be watching her grow all her four years, and hopefully I’ll be back on her senior day.”

Published on February 23, 2019 at 7:02 pm

Contact Arabdho: armajumd@syr.edu | @aromajumder