Orange Open with a Win

Thursday, October 2

Syracuse, NY

7 pm

Syracuse University

1-0-0

Colgate

0-1-0

Colgate

Syracuse

10/2/2014 11:46:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

'Cuse tops Colgate 2-1 behind an 8-for-8 night on the penalty kill

The Syracuse women's hockey won its season opener on Thursday, by taking down local-rival Colgate.

The Orange used goals from sophomore forward Eleanor Haines and senior forward Julie Knerr , a perfect night on the penalty kill that saw 'Cuse stave off eight extra-skater chances from Colgate and a 20-save effort from junior goaltender Jenn Gilligan in her SU debut to lift 'Cuse to a 2-1 victory over the Raiders on opening night.

"This team is willing to play the price," said head coach Paul Flanagan. "We blocked a ton of shots tonight, and that's just paying the price to want to win. That was the difference I think, the fact that our team wants to block shots. They showed a lot of grit, but the girls understand we have some things to improve on. We've got a short amount of time to improve on things as well with a Boston College team that has five national team players on it coming up."

After the first period ended scoreless with neither team able to capitalize on a 5-on-3 advantage, Haines got the scoring going late into the second period.

Haines jammed home a puck off Raiders' goaltender Ashlynne Rando with 4:44 remaining in the period to notch the first Orange goal of the season. Sophomore Laurence Porlier and freshman Dakota Derrer picked up the assists on the goal, with Derrer's helper marking the first point of her collegiate career.

The Orange found the back of the net again just over six minutes into the third period, when freshman Megan Quinn started an Orange rush that led to a breakaway chance for Knerr.

Quinn sent a pass onto sophomore Heather Schwarz, whose ensuing pass split a pair of Raider defenders and found the tape of a streaking Knerr who collected the pass just outside of the blue line and beat Rando for the eventual game-winning goal. Quinn's assist was also her first collegiate point.

Colgate would get one back just before the midway point of the third, when Breanne Wilson-Bennett spoiled Gilligan's clean sheet by scoring top-shelf off a feed from Nicole Gass.

Syracuse managed to hold off the Raiders offense for the final-10 minutes, including another Colgate power play to preserve the win.

The Orange will next travel to No. 3 Boston College on Saturday, a team the Orange upset 4-1 last season when they occupied the same slot in the rankings. Puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m.