Ice Hockey Advances to “Battle at the ‘Burgh” Championship After Shootout Thriller
By Chilekasi Adele | @CAdeleTV
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (CitrusTV) – Syracuse Ice Hockey’s inaugural matchup against Boston University had everything you want in a hockey game — it was physical, there were lots of goals, and it came down to a shootout — a rarity for college hockey.
The Orange played the Terriers in Cranberry Township, Pa. Saturday afternoon — a suburb just outside of Pittsburgh.
SU got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period, as Abby Moloughney scored on the power play — her 8th goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, BU’s Mackenna Parker would even the score.
The Orange came out firing in the 2nd, as Moloughney would tack on another goal for her ninth of the season, and second of the game.
It was all SU in the 2nd, but the tides turned as BU dominated the third. Haylee Blinkhorn put home a shorthanded goal on a breakaway early in the last period. BU’s Lacey Martin tied the game with her first goal of the season.
Overtime brought big chances on both sides — but one constant was the goaltending of Arielle DeSmet. The Charlotte, Vt. native finished with 32 saves.
The Senior — who played in Western Pennsylvania for the first time since she donned the Robert Morris University jersey and pads previously — denied Sophomore Terrier defenseman Tamara Giaquinto to keep the game tied. Giaquinto had been loose and received a great pass from a teammate on a Syracuse defensive lapse.
Later in the period, Orange failed to capitalize on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Sarah Marchand came up the ice to receive a feed from Rayla Clemons. Marchand passed it back to her fellow sophomore, but it narrowly missed connecting with Clemons’ stick.
After overtime, the two teams played a shootout. Usually, a scenario like this would not occur. However, NCAA rules permit shootouts during in-season tournaments like the “Battle at the ‘Burgh.”
In the shootout, all of the initial three shooters for both teams missed their shots. For Paul Flanagan’s squad, Freshman Sarah Marchand, sophomore Sarah Thompson, and graduate student Jessica DiGirolamo took shots. Boston University’s Lacey Martin, Mackenna Parker, and Nadia Mattivi were the opposing shooters.
The shootout moved to sudden-death beginning in the fourth round, where SU senior defenseman Shelby Calof beat BU goaltender Kate Stuart through the 5-hole. BU’s Haylee Blinkhorn was denied by SU goaltender Arielle DeSmet in her attempt to keep the Terriers alive.
Syracuse will face St. Cloud State on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the “Battle at the ‘Burgh” Championship. The Huskies defeated Penn State in 4-3 in overtime Saturday night after trailing 3-1 in the 3rd period. The game will also take place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pa.
