Slow Start Dooms Orange at RIT

Friday, January 11

Rochester, NY

6 PM

Syracuse University

4-16-1, 4-4-0CHA

RIT

8-10-4, 4-4-0CHA

Syracuse

RIT

1/11/2019 8:30:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT raced out to a four-goal lead in the first period and never looked back. The Syracuse women's hockey team lost 4-2 against its College Hockey America foe Friday night inside Gene Polisseni Center.

Syracuse outshot RIT, 40-36, and freshman forward Abby Moloughney and redshirt senior forward Brooke Avery each scored goals, but those efforts were not enough to help the Orange avoid falling to 4-16-1 overall and to 4-4-0 in CHA play this season.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The Tigers struck early and often, finishing with four goals, including two on power-play opportunities, from four different skaters in the first period. RIT's Jade Mancini opened the scoring with her tally four minutes into the game.

Mancini's teammates Hunter Barnett and Kendall Cornine scored one minute apart from each other to extend RIT's lead to 3-0 with nine minutes left to play in the first. Barnett's goal came on the power play, and Cornine's goal proved to be the winner.

Jordan Marchese added RIT's fourth and final goal with just over two minutes left in the first period.

OF NOTE
Moloughney's fourth goal of the year came on a power-play opportunity midway through the second period. Sophomore forward Emma Polaski and sophomore defenseman Jessica DiGirolamo earned assists on her goal.

Avery scored her fifth of the season in the third period. Her goal, which also came on a power play, was set up by freshman forward Lauren Bellefontaine and senior defenseman Allie Munroe.

Bellefontaine ranks second in assists (8) and points (13) this season. She sits behind Munroe, who has nine assists and 14 points, in both categories. Polaski and Avery are the Orange's other top point-getters with 12 and 11, respectively.

Mid-year transfer goaltender Allison Small made the start in goal and came up with 13 saves in the first period. Senior goaltender Maddi Welch took over at the start of the second period and shut out RIT for the rest of the contest, recording 19 saves in the process.

WHAT LIES AHEAD
The Orange return home to Tennity Ice Pavilion for the first time in 2019 next weekend. Syracuse hosts Robert Morris for two games - 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19.

For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).