Women’s Ice Hockey Falls to Cornell in Third Straight Loss
By Brandon Ross
Syracuse started slow offensively at the beginning of its season, failing to score in its first three games. Though things eventually picked up for the Orange, the team has begun spiraling into the same slump.
SU fell to Cornell 5-0 on Tuesday, marking the second time the Orange has been shut out in the past three games.
The Big Red took charge early, taking a three-goal lead in the first period. The first two came from Kristin O’Neill, while Diana Buckley scored on a power play with 2:58 remaining in the opening period.
Cornell saw nothing but daylight from that point, with Joie Phelps adding a score in the second and O’Neill completing the hat trick late in the third.
Lack of accuracy on offense plagued SU, with only 24 of the 46 shots going on goal. The Orange were also outshot for the fourth straight game.
Special teams also continued to prove problematic for Syracuse. The Orange have now only converted on one of its last 15 power play chances, while at the same time surrendering scores in four of its last nine times on the penalty kill.
Syracuse goalie Edith D’Astous-Morea, who has been playing in place of Abbey Miller the last two games, performed well in net as she saved 32 pucks despite allowing five goals.
As SU’s last two games were non-conference matchups, there has been no change in the College Hockey America standings since the Orange’s 4-1 loss to Mercyhurst on January 27. Syracuse still sits at third place in the CHA, with Robert Morris and Mercyhurst tied for 1st four points ahead of SU.
Syracuse will have two chances this weekend to move up the CHA standings this weekend, with a two-game home and away series scheduled with RIT for Friday and Saturday.
