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When two teams are on losing streaks, physicality often follows. Friday was a perfect representation of that. After a three-game winning streak, Syracuse followed it up by losing three straight. The Orange fell to Lindenwood 4-1 on Nov. 23 before two consecutive losses to then-No. 5 Colgate.

Robert Morris entered Friday’s match in a slightly similar situation. The Colonials had lost their last five contests, scoring just one goal since the skid began on Nov. 2. With the combination of anger, determination and desire to flip its recent scripts, SU and RMU combined for eight penalties.

Unlike Syracuse’s series last week against Colgate when it went 0-for-4 in the power play across both games, the Orange (6-12-0, 4-3-0 Atlantic Hockey America) scored an early power-play goal by Bryn Saarela to lift them 4-1 over Robert Morris (5-11-1, 0-6-1 AHA). Saarela’s score was her first in a performance where she notched her first career hat trick.

While Saarela’s impact was clear on the score sheet, it was Tatum White who got things going for Syracuse. A swift pace set by Heidi Knoll pushed the puck down the ice into RMU’s defensive zone. White received the puck as both Saarela and Carly Sardine created traffic by the net. With a quick turn, White slapped the puck past Maggie Hatch to give the Orange a 1-0 lead just three minutes in.

“I was excited to see us in the first period. That was a focus this game, definitely to come out a little harder, challenge them and they’ll have a response.” SU head coach Britni Smith said postgame.

Following White’s goal, RMU immediately thrashed with aggression. Charlotte Hallett, Nea Tervonen and Maya D’Arcy slid across the ice as RMU’s Maddy Coene and Emma Goding stood their ground. But with the aggression for the Colonials came shorthanded lineups as Morgan Giannone headed to the penalty box.

Syracuse struggled last week to convert on power play opportunities. The Orange went 0-for-4 between their 3-1 loss on Friday and 7-1 loss on Saturday. And on SU’s first attempt against Robert Morris, the lowly streak continued. Though it put four shots on net in the two-minute advantage period, Syracuse came away scoreless.

As the first period advanced, Robert Morris found some life down low. A shot by Janelle Evans was saved by Allie Kelley while Tervonen made crucial defensive blocks. But SU’s backline couldn’t hold firm for much longer.

Just a minute after Syracuse’s clean sequence, it allowed RMU to sway the momentum to its side. The Colonials’ Lindsey Smolen ripped the puck past Kelley into the top left corner to tie the game at one apiece.

The next three minutes featured back-and-forth hockey before Mya Farr contributed to another Syracuse power play opportunity. And this time, the Orange thrived. After two missed shots by White and Charli Kettyle, Saarela found the back of the net with an assist by Jackson Kinsler.

“When they responded after the first goal, (us) getting a second one shortly after definitely helped our momentum,” Saarela said. “Just pressing hard on them, getting that goal at the end of the first really helped for the whole game.”

Syracuse headed into the first break with a 2-1 lead after outshooting RMU 19 to 10 in the opening frame. Yet, after the first period’s offensive look for SU, the second period brought a heavy emphasis to its defensive line.

The first five minutes were sluggish for both teams. Syracuse saw its first opportunity of the period when Celia Wiegand was wide open for a slap shot. However, when she received the puck, it passed her skates to the other end of the rink, allowing RMU’s defense to clamp down.

The Colonials then found themselves with a great look at net when Jersey Phillips pushed into SU’s zone on a two-on-one fast break. As Phillips approached the net, the forward slapped one off the right crossbar, allowing the Orange to escape without damage.

Significant saves by Kelley, alongside crucial blocks by Sardine, kept Syracuse ahead. That’s when the physicality really kicked in. Madison Primeau committed a cross-checking penalty, which Syracuse didn’t capitalize on. Then Giannone was called for her second penalty of the contest, again for interference.

Twenty-two seconds after RMU’s drawback occurred, Tervonen got called for roughing, nullifying SU’s advantageous attack.

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

The Orange entered the third period with the same lead it attained in the first. While Robert Morris came out with its continued aggression in the final frame, Saarela was too much for the Colonials to handle.

Two minutes in, Saarela was standing in the right place at the right time as White found her by the net. The Holy Cross transfer tapped the puck past Hatch for her second goal of the game.

The third period progressed with comfort for the Orange. Syracuse’s offense toyed with RMU to run out the clock.

With two minutes left, the Colonials took their goalie out of net, giving Saarela a final chance to do something she hadn’t done in her five-year career: score a hat trick.

Saarela received a quick pass from Stella Costabile before launching the puck over Allyson Hebert to accomplish the rare feat.

“She’s someone that impacts the game every shift, someone who’s really good on (both) sides of the puck,” Smith said. “(Saarela’s) someone we look to to impact our game in a number of ways and her getting that hat trick showed that.”

Published on December 6, 2024 at 10:35 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_