Skelly Scores within Nine Seconds in Orange's Historic Debut

Wednesday, October 1

Hamilton, NY

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Colgate

Lucy Schoedel recorded 34 saves in her first game in goal for Syracuse.

Skelly Scores within Nine Seconds in Orange's Historic Debut

10/1/2008 9:20:48 PM | Ice Hockey

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(click on Syracuse's Historic First Game Folder)

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Freshman Megan Skelly scored the first goal in Syracuse women's ice hockey history just nine seconds into the program's first game at Colgate on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The Orange took a 2-0 lead before the Raiders came back and prevailed, 4-3, at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.

Junior netminder Lucy Schoedel defended the Raiders offense well, turning away 34-of-38 shots to anchor the Orange defense.

Skelly led the offensive charge by tallying two of Syracuse’s three goals. Freshman left winger Janelle Malcolm (Edmonton, Alberta) added the Orange’s other marker with assists coming from freshmen forwards Kylie Klassen (Winkler, Manitoba) and Lisa Mullan (Victoria, British Columbia) and freshman defender Kelly Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.).

“Tonight was a good effort with so many unknowns coming into the game,” head coach Paul Flanagan said. “For being together for such a short time, these guys did a great job working hard and playing as a team. We ran out of gas at times, but that is to be expected. I now have a pretty good idea on what to expect from our team. All-in-all, I was please with what I saw tonight.”

The Orange scored its first goal immediately off the initial faceoff. Sophomore center Stefanie Marty (Nussbaumen, Switzerland) won the draw, forcing the puck toward Colgate’s zone. Klassen was given the assist after she snared the puck on the left side and fired a shot high on Colgate netminder Lisa Plenderleith. Plenderleith made the stop, but let the puck trickle in front of the crease. Skelly lifted the rebound past the goalie’s glove for Syracuse’s historic first goal at 19:51.

Malcolm put the Orange up 2-0 in a similar fashion. Plenderleith made the original block, but Malcolm was there to nudge the puck past her outstretched glove at 13:12 in the first period. Dimmen earned the assist by blasting the first shot at Plenderleith.

Colgate’s Katie Stewart cut the Orange’s lead in half, 2-1, on a five-on-four situation after Dimmen was whistled for interference at 7:23. Stewart received a pass from Sam Hunt in front of the cage and snuck it by Schoedel at 6:43 of the first stanza.

Colgate struck again at 5:51 of the first period to knot the game at 2-2. Evan Minnick benefited from a scuffle in front of the net and put it under Schoedel’s leg pad.

Colgate took the lead when Hunt gathered a centering pass from Katie Stewart and scored the Raiders' second power-play goal of the game with 2:38 left in the second period.

Schoedel turned away 14-of-15 shots she faced in the second period.

The Raiders added another tally at 12:33 of the third period when Hannah Milan accepted a pass from Nicole McDonald and slipped the puck underneath Schoedel’s leg right in front of the crease.

In the waning moments of the period the Orange applied heavy offensive pressure. Skelly backhanded a loose carom past Colgate’s Elayna Hamashuk in front of the goal to cut the deficit to 4-3. Mullan was credited with the assist after firing the first shot on target.

The Orange travel to Madison, Wis. for a two-game series at the Kohl Center against the #2 Wisconsin Badgers. Game times are set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 and noon on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Badgers will celebrate their 10-year program anniversary this weekend.