Skelly Finds her Scoring Touch against Wayne State

Saturday, January 24

Syracuse, NY

2:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

#11 Wayne State

Freshman sensation Megan Skelly deposited her team-leading ninth goal in short-handed fashion on Saturday afternoon. She now also leads the club with two-shorthaned tallies.

Skelly Finds her Scoring Touch against Wayne State

1/24/2009 6:12:37 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

Wayne State 3, Syracuse 1

Season Statistics through January 24, 2009

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Friday's physical play carried over to Saturday's fray at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Saturday afternoon between rv/rv Wayne State (17-3-2, 8-0-0) and Syracuse (3-15-3, 0-11-3), enabling Wayne State to cash in on a couple powerplay goals in a 3-1 setback for the Orange. Despite outshooting the Warriors, 35-31, Syracuse could not subdue WSU's extra-man configuration.

On the flipside, freshman forward Megan Skelly (Taber, Alberta) crafted a beautiful one-timer at the start of the second period with an Orange team member in the box. Skelly now leads the club in points (16), goals (9) and short-handed goals (2). The first-year winger's short-handed goal on Saturday was SU's first short-handed goal since the Orange put away three against Sacred Heart in the home opener. Sophomore captains Julie Rising (Anchorage, Alaska) and Stefanie Marty (Nussbaumen, Switzerland) each accounted a goal while down a skater as did Skelly.

Marty posted her 10th assist of the season by way of Skelly's marker, pulling her into second place in assists and is now tied with freshman Lisa Mullan (Victoria, British Columbia) for second on the team with 14 points. The Swiss Olympian also upped her plus/minus rating to +1, the second skater on the team to have a positive rating (Kylie Klassen, +2) through 21 contests. Marty also assembled her third pointstreak of the season, most on the team. She tallied an assist in each outing versus Wayne State this weekend and has recorded consecutive scoring stretches of five and four games.

Junior goaltender Lucy Schoedel (Ithaca, N.Y.) hindered 28 pucks on 31 Warriors' shots. The third-year backstopper has made 570 total saves this season against 638 shots (89.3 save percentage) and is surrendering 3.43 goals per game. Schoedel has racked up 1189:47 in all 21 starts for the Orange.

The Warriors hopped on the board quickly after Mullan was sent off for an interference call just 00:28 seconds into the game. Lindsey DiPietro put herself in position for an odd-man opportunity against Schoedel. DiPietro deked to her left and then crammed the puck underneath Schoedel's left pad after faking back to her right for the early 1-0 lead. DiPietro's powerplay tally came at 1:49 of the first frame.

DiPietro imitated herself in the second period by putting another one away 00:21 seconds into the middle session. DiPietro accepted a precise pass from Sam Poyton to deliver the one-timer past Schoedel to move two goals clear of the Orange, 2-0.

Rising took a two-minute break in the box after a goaltender interference call 00:50 seconds into the second period. Regardless of being down a skater, Syracuse broke up a Wayne State possession in the neutral zone. Marty skated the puck down the far, right side of the ice and honed in on a wide-open Skelly. Skelly removed herself from the ensuing pressure and was able to blast the back of the net with a beautifully-executed one-timer to bring Syracuse within striking distance on SU's fourth short-handed goal of the year, 2-1, at 1:36 of the second period.

Poyton was still aware of Rising in the penalty box and provided the final blow at 2:36 of the second. By calling upon the extra-skater advantage, Poyton was able to maneuver away from heavy traffic in front of the net and free herself just enough to get a blade on the puck past Schoedel to set the final score, 3-1.

Even though neither team crossed the goal line in the third frame, Syracuse outshot Wayne State 14-9 in the third period.

Syracuse picks up where it left off against Niagara on Friday, January 30 at Tennity Ice Pavilion at 7pm.The two teams will butt heads again on Saturday, January 31 at 2pm, marking the final regular season conference game to be played at Tennity Ice Pavilion and the last event to be staged on a Saturday afternoon.