Women’s Ice Hockey Bounces Back with 7-1 Win Over RIT
By Brandon Ross
Entering Friday, Syracuse was in the midst of a brutal three-game losing streak. In losses to Mercyhurst, Clarkson and Cornell, the Orange was outscored 13-1, didn’t convert on any of its nine power play opportunities and surrendered four goals in ten times on the penalty kill. But the tide turned for SU against RIT as the Orange dominated the Tigers in a 7-1 victory.
Syracuse got on the board early and plentifully with Savannah Rennie, Allie Munroe, and Megan Quinn each scoring on RIT goalie Jessi O’Leary in just the first nine minutes.
The Orange didn’t turn back after getting the early cushion. Syracuse players spread around its seven goals as each was scored by a different player. Alysha Burriss notched a goal early in the second period. Victoria Klimek scored a short-handed goal towards the end of the second. Allie Olnowich knocked in a slapshot from the blue line early in the third period. Finally, Ronnie Callahan finished on a breakaway in the closing minutes.
SU goalie Abbey Miller, who started Friday after being benched the last two games, played well behind a stellar defense. The senior accumulated 15 saves on the night, but got a huge assist from critical defensive play. The Orange only allowed one power play goal in 13 separate penalty kills, including two three-on-fives within a five-minute span.
With Friday’s win, Syracuse sits at third place in the College Hockey America conference standings, two points behind Robert Morris and three behind Mercyhurst. Since RMU is not playing a conference opponent this weekend, an Orange victory on Saturday would put the two teams in a tie for second place with only two weeks left in the regular season.
Although SU is playing RIT again on Saturday, the teams will not be playing at Tennity Ice Pavilion. As the two schools play a home-and-home series every year, the Orange will be heading to Rochester for Saturday’s matchup at 1 p.m.
