Ice Hockey Gets Revenge Against Mercyhurst, Clinches CHA Regular-Season Title

By Chilekasi Adele | @CAdeleTV

ERIE, Pa. — Tennity Ice Pavilion will host the CHA Tournament after Syracuse Ice Hockey defeated Mercyhurst Saturday, 4-1. 

Saturday’s win is a stark contrast to Mercyhurst’s 9-0 thrashing of Syracuse the day before. Syracuse goaltender Arielle DeSmet allowed one goal Saturday after giving up three the day before. Allison Small gave up six goals in relief of DeSmet Friday. DeSmet had 33 saves Saturday afternoon. 

About 11 minutes into the opening period, Sophomore forward Tatum White scored the first goal of the game — her fourth goal of the season. It was one of White’s two points. About six minutes later, graduate student Kristy Pidgeon tied the game with her tenth goal of the season. 

In the second, Syracuse’s Anna Leschyshyn broke the tie with her sixth goal of the season. This is where the aforementioned White assisted Leschyshyn. In the third period, Madison Primeau netted her tenth goal of the season. The Freshman received an assist from redshirt junior Marielle McHale. 

With fifty seconds remaining in the final period, graduate student Victoria Klimek netted the fourth goal to ice the game for Syracuse.

Saturday’s game was the final game of the regular season for Paul Flanagan’s squad. The Orange now have 23 points on the season, compared with 18 for Mercyhurst. The Lakers have two games remaining in the season, but they have no way to climb back into the standings. 

With Saturday’s win, Syracuse clinched its first regular season conference title in program history. The Orange have now solidified a number one seed in the conference tournament in two weeks time. 

The CHA Tournament will begin on Feb. 24. Syracuse’s only championship came in 2019, as they won the 2022 CHA Championship. Check back with CitrusTV.com and follow @CitrusTVSports on Twitter for more coverage as the CHA Tournament approaches.