DiGirolamo, Avery Score in Victory over Penn State; Orange Go for Sweep Tomorrow

Friday, January 25

Syracuse, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

6-17-1, 6-5-0CHA

Penn State

10-10-4, 4-7-0CHA

Penn State

Syracuse

DiGirolamo, Avery Score in Victory over Penn State; Orange Go for Sweep Tomorrow

1/25/2019 10:30:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse women's ice hockey's team dominance of Penn State continued Friday night inside Tennity Ice Pavilion. Sophomore defenseman Jessica DiGirolamo and redshirt senior forward Brooke Avery each scored goals to lead the Orange to a 2-1 win over the Nittany Lions, improving Syracuse's all-time record to 24-1-3 against Penn State.

The Orange move to 6-5-0 in CHA play with the win, and their overall record now stands at 6-17-1. Syracuse owns a perfect 10-0-3 mark at home versus the Nittany Lions.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Avery's second-period goal - her sixth tally of the season - was the difference maker. It put the Orange ahead 2-0, proving to be the decisive game-winner. Avery's goal came off assists from freshman defenseman Shelby Calof and junior forward Logan Hicks.

Prior to that, Syracuse and Penn State spent most of the first period battling along the boards. The Orange, however, struck first.

After Syracuse initiated an attack, a scrum for the puck in front of the net left Penn State goaltender Jenna Brenneman without her stick. DiGirolamo capitalized, first firing off a shot which was blocked by Penn State.

She got the rebound, however, set up on top of the right circle and once again fired, scoring her fifth goal of the year. Avery, who earned the second assist on the game's opening goal, helped out by offering a screen on the goaltender for DiGirolamo to shoot through.

Penn State also had plenty of opportunities in the game, outshooting the Orange by a 34-20. Goaltender Maddi Welch, however, stepped up and made save after save. She made 12 saves in the first period, 14 in the second and seven in the final period, finishing with 33 in total.

The Nittany Lions broke through for a goal in the third period on a power play opportunity, but it was too little too late.

OF NOTE
With her two-point performance, Avery is now tied for third on the Orange in points with 13. She has seven assists this season to go along with her six goals.

DiGirolamo, meanwhile, has 11 points this year, which ranks fourth best on the team. She has recorded one point in three of the Orange's last four games.

Calof recorded her first and second career assists in the victory over Penn State. The freshman now has three points (1 goal, 2 assists this season.

UP NEXT
The Orange have a chance to sweep the season series with Penn State tomorrow. The puck drops in the second game between the two CHA foes at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.

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