Position Preview: Goaltenders
10/1/2018 5:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - As the start of Syracuse hockey's regular season draws near, head coach Paul Flanagan and his staff continue to work around the clock inside Tennity Ice Pavilion, putting the finishing touches on this year's squad. The Orange open their season at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 against Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Position previews will follow on Cuse.com in the days leading up to the season opener. Today's edition examines the goaltenders.
THE GOALTENDING SITUATION
The Orange have just two goaltenders on this year's roster - senior Maddi Welch and junior Ady Cohen. Both look to replace recent Syracuse graduate and former goaltender Abbey Miller, whose career 2.02 goals against average ranks best in program history. Her .913 save percentage is second-best in the Syracuse record book.
Welch, originally from East Amherst, N.Y., has played nine game in her career. She has 167 career saves (.893 save percentage) and two shutouts to her name.
Cohen, meanwhile, has played just four games in her two years at Syracuse. Originally from Boynton Beach, Fla., she owns an .886 career save percentage.
While neither Welch nor Cohen have much ice time, Flanagan doesn't believe inexperience prevents either one of them from emerging as a reliable force in goal.
"Abbey went into her junior year in the same exact scenario that Maddi and Ady are in," Flanagan said. "She had played sparingly, but she went out and took the job.
"She's proof that hard work and perseverance can really pay off. Abbey showed it's what you do, both on and off the ice. You get what you earn, and I'd like to think Maddi and Ady have learned from Abbey's experiences here. One - or both - of them can emerge as real, bona fide goalies because we're going to need it."
HEAR MORE FROM COACH FLANAGAN
"In a nutshell, neither have played much in their careers. In fairness to both of them, they really haven't gotten a great opportunity to show what they're capable of doing. This is a great opportunity for both of them to get a lot of quality practice time and tons of reps. They can really focus in practice Monday through Thursday, and whoever gets the nod over the weekend should feel prepared and confident. Whoever has the hot hand's going to play, but they know that whoever's working hard and making saves is going to be in there."
MORE ABOUT THE ORANGE
The Orange embark on their 11th year of play this Saturday. Syracuse finished the 2017-18 season with a 13-21-2 overall record, going 11-8-1 in College Hockey America contests. The team advanced to the 2018 CHA Tournament semifinals, but fell short 3-2 in overtime against Mercyhurt.
Flanagan is once again set to oversee the squad. The Canton, N.Y., native has been at the helm of the Orange since the very beginning, leading Syracuse to six conference finals appearances, including three consecutive appearances from 2015-17.
Co-captains senior Allie Munroe and redshirt junior Lindsay Eastwood, as well as alternate captain redshirt senior Brooke Avery, will lead this year's team, which was tabbed to finish third in the 2018-19 CHA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Avery, the lone forward of the trio, led the Orange in goals last season, netting 14 scores in 36 games played. A pinpoint sniper, the Conrad, N.H., native posted the second-highest shot percentage on the team at .182, which was good for fourth in CHA.
Eastwood and Munroe anchor the Orange defense, combining for 95 blocked shots in 2017-18. The most productive defenseman on the team, Eastwood led in assists (19) and added four goals.
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Munroe posted 13 points (four goals and nine assists) in 29 games last season, including a game-winning goal against RIT.Â
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For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
Position previews will follow on Cuse.com in the days leading up to the season opener. Today's edition examines the goaltenders.
THE GOALTENDING SITUATION
The Orange have just two goaltenders on this year's roster - senior Maddi Welch and junior Ady Cohen. Both look to replace recent Syracuse graduate and former goaltender Abbey Miller, whose career 2.02 goals against average ranks best in program history. Her .913 save percentage is second-best in the Syracuse record book.
Welch, originally from East Amherst, N.Y., has played nine game in her career. She has 167 career saves (.893 save percentage) and two shutouts to her name.
Cohen, meanwhile, has played just four games in her two years at Syracuse. Originally from Boynton Beach, Fla., she owns an .886 career save percentage.
While neither Welch nor Cohen have much ice time, Flanagan doesn't believe inexperience prevents either one of them from emerging as a reliable force in goal.
"Abbey went into her junior year in the same exact scenario that Maddi and Ady are in," Flanagan said. "She had played sparingly, but she went out and took the job.
"She's proof that hard work and perseverance can really pay off. Abbey showed it's what you do, both on and off the ice. You get what you earn, and I'd like to think Maddi and Ady have learned from Abbey's experiences here. One - or both - of them can emerge as real, bona fide goalies because we're going to need it."
HEAR MORE FROM COACH FLANAGAN
"In a nutshell, neither have played much in their careers. In fairness to both of them, they really haven't gotten a great opportunity to show what they're capable of doing. This is a great opportunity for both of them to get a lot of quality practice time and tons of reps. They can really focus in practice Monday through Thursday, and whoever gets the nod over the weekend should feel prepared and confident. Whoever has the hot hand's going to play, but they know that whoever's working hard and making saves is going to be in there."
MORE ABOUT THE ORANGE
The Orange embark on their 11th year of play this Saturday. Syracuse finished the 2017-18 season with a 13-21-2 overall record, going 11-8-1 in College Hockey America contests. The team advanced to the 2018 CHA Tournament semifinals, but fell short 3-2 in overtime against Mercyhurt.
Flanagan is once again set to oversee the squad. The Canton, N.Y., native has been at the helm of the Orange since the very beginning, leading Syracuse to six conference finals appearances, including three consecutive appearances from 2015-17.
Co-captains senior Allie Munroe and redshirt junior Lindsay Eastwood, as well as alternate captain redshirt senior Brooke Avery, will lead this year's team, which was tabbed to finish third in the 2018-19 CHA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Avery, the lone forward of the trio, led the Orange in goals last season, netting 14 scores in 36 games played. A pinpoint sniper, the Conrad, N.H., native posted the second-highest shot percentage on the team at .182, which was good for fourth in CHA.
Eastwood and Munroe anchor the Orange defense, combining for 95 blocked shots in 2017-18. The most productive defenseman on the team, Eastwood led in assists (19) and added four goals.
Â
Munroe posted 13 points (four goals and nine assists) in 29 games last season, including a game-winning goal against RIT.Â
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For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
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