Syracuse University
9-16-3
Niagara (No. 5 seed)
6-24-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| SU | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
SU Comes up One Short in Playoff Game
3/5/2009 6:06:50 PM | Ice Hockey
(No. 5 seed) Niagara 3, (No. 4) Syracuse 2 | Final Season Statistics
ERIE, Pa. – In the first playoff game in program history the No. 4-seeded Orange lost to No. 5-seed Niagara, 3-2, on Thursday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center in the quarterfinal round of the College Hockey America tournament.
Freshman forward Kylie Klassen recorded Syracuse's first playoff goal in school history to initiate the scoring with first-year winger Megan Skelly and sophomore co-captain Julie Rising receiving credit on the assist.
Sophomore center Stefanie Marty dialed up the Orange's second goal of the game with helpers coming from the same pair on SU's first tally. in Skelly and Rising.
Junior netminder Lucy Schoedel staffed the net every game for Syracuse in its inaugural season, 28 in all, and made 24 saves on 27 Niagara attempts in the season finale. Schoedel finished the year with 712 total stops.
Marty capped the season as SU's points leader with 22, overall (10 G, 12 A). Skelly's two assists gave her 21 points on the season (11 G, 10 A), while Rising finished in a tie for third in team scoring with freshman forward Lisa Mullan by notching 19 points.
The first exchanges of the opening stanza gave way to multiple scoring chances for both teams. Niagara sent the first jolt of the game after Mary McKinnon rang a laser off of SU's post near the four minute mark of the first period.
Syracuse took heed as Klassen responded with a pinpoint bullet from the top of the right circle through crease traffic past NU's Nikki Rudy to draw first blood at 17:43 of the first. Skelly and Rising worked the puck around the top of the zone to orchestrate SU's first playoff goal in school history for the 1-0 advantage.
Niagara evened the count after Frances McPhail slipped the disc past Schoedel at 4:35 of the second period. McPhail corralled the puck at the top of the left circle after a feed from Ashley Riggs. Schoedel could not pick up the puck through the screen as the Purple Eagles drew even, 1-1.
At 12:24 of the middle session, the Orange was getting outworked on its defensive side, but Skelly cut off a Purple Eagles' pass near the blue line and hustled down the right side of the ice. Skelly discovered a flanking Marty down the center and needled a pass through two NU defensemen. Marty deked Rudy once to her left side and brought the puck around to her backhand and lifted it through to double up on SU's advantage, 2-1. Rising made the initial deflection in SU's zone and was awarded her second assist on the play.
Caitlin Jenkins was whistled for a hooking call 00:47 seconds into the third period. Syracuse was working its powerplay in NU's zone, but Melanie Mills stole the puck and connected with Riggs in the slot. Riggs broke through two defenders and beat Schoedel on a wide-open breakaway in short-handed fashion with 2:18 into the third for the equalizer, 2-2.
With 3:50 reading on the clock, Skelly intercepted another pass and motored past a Purple Eagles blueliner down the right side to open herself up for an attempt. Skelly discharged a slapshot from 25 feet out that smacked Rudy's facemask, forcing her into the back of the net from the impact. With Rudy in a vulnerable position, Skelly and an NU defender took each other down to the ice and the puck carried into the net with the momentum of the fall. Due to the net being out of position and off its pegs, the goal was disallowed.
Alison Malty clinched the game at the 17:10 point of the final frame. Niagara made multiple passes leading to a shot thwarted by Schoedel. Malty was in the right place at the right time and sent the puck in on a loose rebound for the game winner, 3-2.
Syracuse closes its inaugural season with a 9-16-3 overall record and 2-12-3 in CHA play.
