'Cuse Clinches CHA Bye; 'Skate for the Cure' Tomorrow

Friday, February 12

Syracuse, NY

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

15-13-3, 11-4-2CHA

Robert Morris

14-12-5, 6-7-4CHA

Robert Morris

Syracuse

Junior Jessica Sibley finished with three points on Friday night.

'Cuse Clinches CHA Bye; 'Skate for the Cure' Tomorrow

2/12/2016 10:26:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- The Syracuse women's ice hockey team exploded for six second-period goals against Robert Morris on Friday night, cruising to a 6-1 win to clinch a bye in the College Hockey America playoffs. The Orange return home tomorrow at Tennity Ice Pavilion against Robert Morris at 3 p.m. for their 'Skate for the Cure' game.

The six second-period goals ties a Syracuse (15-13-3, 11-4-2 CHA) program record for most goals in a frame, tying a mark that dates back to their first home game ever held at Tennity Ice Pavilion in 2008. Despite Robert Morris (14-12-5, 6-7-4 CHA) scoring the game's first goal, the Colonials could not slow down the fast-paced Orange offense in the second frame.

The Orange had six different players find the back of the net and were led by a three-point performances from senior Nicole Renault and junior Jessica Sibley. Senior Danielle Leslie finished with two points, dishing out two assists in the victory.

After back-and-forth action for majority of the first half, Robert Morris put home the game's first goal at the 18:51 mark of the first frame. The CHA's leader in points Brittany Howard beat senior netminder Jenn Gilligan on a scrum in front of the net to deliver the Colonials a 1-0 lead headed into the first intermission.

The 1-0 deficit did not hold Syracuse back into the second, as the Orange erupted for six goals in a span of 17 minutes. Senior Nicole Ferrara got things going offensively 1:35 into the second by beating Robert Morris goaltender Jessica Dodds with a nifty back-handed shot to the right-hand side of the net. Under one minute later, sophomore Emily Costales put home the eventual game-winning goal, giving Syracuse the momentum to keep pushing.

Renault made it 3-1 about five minutes after the Costales goal with a blast that whizzed right past the glove of Dodds. With a two-goal lead, junior Heather Schwarz made an impressive play to put the Orange up by three. Schwarz took the puck from the Orange blue line all the way to the Robert Morris net, wrapping around the goal to extend the lead to 4-1. The Colonials were forced to take a timeout and pull Dodds from the net, replacing her with Elijah Milne-Price.

Despite the goalie change for Robert Morris, the Orange were not done putting the puck in the net. Freshman Allie Munroe made an unbelievable toe-drag move at the blue line before blowing a wrister past Milne-Price on a power play to make it 5-1. Sibley concluded the second-period flurry with her eleventh goal of the season at the 17:26 mark. Syracuse took a demanding 6-1 lead into the third period and never looked back.

Freshman Maddi Welch entered in the third frame, turning aside every shot that came her way in the period. Welch finish the game with 13 total saves in between the pipes. Gilligan made 14 total saves in her two periods of work.

Although the score was very lopsided, the Orange only outshot Robert Morris by four, 32-28. It was the 19-6 edge in the second period that proved to be the difference in the contest.

Syracuse returns home tomorrow to face off against Robert Morris at 3 p.m. for the 'Skate for the Cure' game. There will be free giveaways and a free skate with Syracuse players after the game. Pink jerseys will also be auctioned off throughout the week. Fans can bid on the jerseys by going to Cuse.com/auctions.

Both live video and live stats can be accessed for the game by visiting Cuse.com.