In its first of two games this season against its in-state rival, Syracuse (6-13-2, 5-5-1 College Hockey America) fell to No. 6 Cornell (9-6-1, 6-4-0 Eastern College), 6-3, on Tuesday at Tennity Ice Pavilion in a game much closer than the final score indicates.

Freshman Edith D’Astous-Moreau received her second straight start in goal for the Orange after earning a victory against Robert Morris on Saturday, but was pulled for usual starter Abbey Miller after the first period. The loss marks Syracuse’s ninth straight defeat against the Big Red since winning the first meeting between the teams in 2010.

Cornell wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, finding the back of the net just 28 seconds into the contest and kicking off a high-scoring first period. An unassisted goal by SU’s Kelli Rowswell tied the game six minutes later, however, giving the sophomore forward her seventh goal of the year. Goals by each team in the following five minutes tied the game at two, including Brooke Avery’s Syracuse-leading eighth score of the year. It came off feeds from Lindsay Eastwood and Emma Polaski, giving Eastwood her SU-best 12th assist of the season.

A significant advantage in shots (23-6) in the period helped the Big Red retake the lead five minutes later and prevented another Syracuse response, as a Cornell goal with just under two minutes left in the period gave it a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes.

While Miller was inserted into the game as the goalie in the second period, her teammates made sure that she wasn’t very busy. After recording 10 shots on goal in the first period, the Big Red failed to put an attempt on target until the last four minutes of the second, during a power play. The opportunity was thwarted, however, and Syracuse’s stout defensive effort combined with Alysha Burriss’ fourth goal of the year four minutes into the period cut the Cornell lead to 4-3 entering the final period.

The Orange continued its improved play into the third period, but struggled to find the fourth goal it needed to tie the game. Despite outshooting the Big Red in the first 18 minutes of the period (8-4 shots on goal), Syracuse couldn’t convert on any of its looks. With 90 seconds left in the game the Orange pulled Miller and 17 seconds later, it earned a power play opportunity for the rest of the game, prompting a timeout by SU.

The ensuing play resulted in the opposite of what the Orange desired, however, as Cornell won the faceoff and scored a short-handed empty net goal in six seconds. Just 47 seconds later, the Big Red converted on another man-down empty net goal, giving the game its final 6-3 score.

Next up for Syracuse is another nonconference matchup against an in-state foe, this time against Colgate. The Orange will travel to Hamilton on Tuesday, Jan. 16 for a 12 p.m. contest against the Raiders.

 

Published on January 9, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Contact Eric: [email protected] | @esblack34