In each of Syracuse’s three wins against Robert Morris this season, Nicole Ferrara has scored the game-winning goal.

“It felt good,” she said. “It just felt good to get the four points this weekend and move closer to first in (College Hockey America).”

In a crucial series against CHA defending champion Robert Morris, Ferrara, a sophomore forward who has underachieved for a large part of the year, came through to deliver game-winning goals in both games. For most of the season, it’s been a struggle for the forward to produce goals for the Orange (16-11-1, 10-3-1 CHA). Through the first 23 games of the season, Ferrara only scored four goals.

But seemingly, out of nowhere, she has been able to produce five in her last five games.

“I have more confidence,” Ferrara said. “I think I have been shooting the puck a little bit more. I have been playing a little bit better.”

Ferrara’s production has steadily increased as she’s recovered from a shoulder injury since the start of the year.

Because of the shoulder injury, Ferrara relies on her speed and intellect to score goals.

SU head coach Paul Flanagan said if Ferrara could shoot as hard as linemate Shiann Darkangelo, she’d be scoring 25 goals this year. A season’s worth of shooting work with her coaches, though, has led to the current hot streak.

Senior forward Holly Carrie-Mattimoe has played on the same line as Ferrara since the beginning of the season, when Ferrara was struggling to produce points. While Ferrara can be a bit of a comedienne at times, Carrie-Mattimoe said, her work ethic is the reason she has dramatically improved her play.

“She’s really dedicated. She gets out on the ice early almost every single day,” Carrie-Mattimoe said. “She’s been practicing on her shot a lot and, as you’ve seen, she’s been scoring a lot more.

During the Jan. 18-19 series at Lindenwood, Flanagan changed up his lines, switching Darkangelo with Margot Scharfe and moving her up from the second line to the first. Having a linemate like Ferrara, Darkangelo said, has made that transition easier.

“She’s very patient with the puck and you know that she will get it to you if you are open,” Darkangelo said. “Her patience really helps out on the ice with both me and Holly.”

Ferrara’s recent scoring output comes at a crucial time in the season for the team as SU fights for seeding in the CHA tournament. Ferrara’s revival has helped Flanagan in his season-long search to find a consistent goal-scorer after star freshman Laurie Kingsbury lost her SU career to a concussion after just six games.

Flanagan’s tried changing up the lines and moving players, like senior Jacquie Greco from defense to forward, but none of those moves have really been able to solve the problem. But Ferrara has “absolutely” helped Flanagan’s offense produce.

“I think you look at it, whether it’s two or three, or six or seven players starting to chip in,” Flanagan said. “It would be nice if we could get some of these other players at one or two goals to seven or eight.”

Published on February 7, 2013 at 12:30 am

Contact Ryan: [email protected]