Syracuse women’s ice hockey falls again to Mercyhurst, 6-2

By Gino Antimarino | @ginoantimarino

The Orange (4-17-2, 1-8-1 CHA) dropped both matchups against the Lakers (11-12-1, 7-3-0 CHA) this weekend, but it wasn’t all bad for the ‘Cuse. SU gave up the first goal of the game in the first period to go into a hole early. The Orange responded in the second period thanks to forward Darci Johal’s powerplay goal. 

Then the third period took place… the Lakers scored two straight early in the last frame to go up, 3-1. Then, top scorer for the Orange, Kate Holmes, found the back of the net to bring her team back within one. The grad student had two points in today’s contest, which brings her season total up to 16.

But that is when things went sideways for SU. Mercyhurst scored three straight to cap things off, including the last two goals coming on the powerplay, 30 seconds separated from each other. 

Special teams is what defined today’s matchup. The Orange and the Lakers were each guilty of five penalties apiece. Even though both teams had about the same amount of chances on the player up, Mercyhurst was much more successful at converting on them than Syracuse. MU went three for four on the powerplay while SU went just one for five. 

Because of those powerplay chances, Mercyhurst poured on the shots. The Lakers tallied 51 on net which was just too much for the Orange to handle.

Syracuse heads home and gets set for its last non-conference matchup on Tuesday against St. Lawrence. Opening puck drop is at 6 p.m. from Tennity Ice Pavilion.