Orange Host Mercyhurst for Two Game Series

SYRACUSE (5-13-1, 4-1-1 CHA) vs. MERCYHURST (11-7-2, 5-1-0 CHA)
Game Details: Syracuse, N.Y. | Tennity Ice Pavilion
Friday: 7 p.m. | Watch
Saturday: 3 p.m. | Watch
Weekend Live Stats: Live stats
Twitter: @Cuseice
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Mercyhurst Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The defending College Hockey America (CHA) champions host conference rival Mercyhurst this weekend for a two-game series at Tennity Ice Pavilion. Faceoff between the Syracuse Orange and Mercyhurst on Friday is at 7 p.m., and the second game of the series gets underway Saturday at 3 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear white on Friday to white out Tennity. Free hot chocolate and coffee will be available for the first 100 fans in attendance. Parking and admission to all home contests is free. Both games will be streamed live via Cuse.tv.

The Orange (5-13-1, 4-1-1 CHA) are coming off a 3-1 loss to St. Lawrence Tuesday night in the first game of the New Year. 'Cuse knotted the game at 1-1 two minutes into the second period, but back-to-back goals in the final moments of the third gave the Saints the victory. Sophomore Abby Moloughney scored the Orange's lone goal, with the assist coming from senior Amanda Bäckebo.

THE HUNT FOR 400
Head coach Paul Flanagan enters Friday with 398 career wins. At 400, he'll become the seventh collegiate women's coach to hit the milestone, and second in the CHA behind Mercyhurst's Michael Sisti.

SERIES HISTORY
Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 40-9-3 but has lost the last three matchups against the Orange. Syracuse won the last meeting, 4-3, in the second round of the CHA tournament on Mar. 7, 2019.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS
The Lakers rank first in the CHA standings and 16th in the USCHO RPI. Syracuse ranks third in the conference and 29th in the RPI.
    - Emma Nuutinen (13-11-24) leads the Lakers, followed by Sam Isbell (4-20-24) and Summer-Rae Dobson (9-9-18).
    - Nuutinen 1.33 PPG puts her at 18th in the nation.
    - Goaltender Kennedy Blair is 10-6-2 on the year with two shutouts, a 2.20 GAA and a .915 SV%. Her GAA is good for 21st in the nation, and her save percentage ranks 24th.

SYRACUSE RANKINGS
    - Jessica DiGirolamo ranks 16th nationally and second in the CHA in points per game for defenders (0.79). Lindsay Eastwood is third in the league with
    - Kelli Rowswell and Lauren Bellefontaine are two of just 10 skaters in the CHA to score a short-handed goal.
    - Abby Moloughney's four points against Union, alongside Lindsay Eastwood and Mae Batherson's four against Lindenwood, are tied for second-most in a single CHA game this year.
    - Moloughney's 12 assists rank fifth in the CHA.
    - Syracuse boasts two of the CHA's top-four most productive freshmen in Mae Batherson (2-9-11) and Anna Leschyshyn (5-5-10). Madison Beishuizen (1-4-5), and Brynn Koocher (3-1-4) rank seventh and 12th, respectively.
    - Ady Cohen is tied for fourth nationally in season shutouts (2).

🚨🚨BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨🚨

We're heading outdoors! Come join us Jan. 20 for an open skate at the Clinton Square Ice Rink!🍊🏒https://t.co/3Q41h2XZL9
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) January 9, 2020

SAVE THE DATE
The Orange are hosting Youth Weekend Jan. 24-25 when CHA foe Penn State comes to town. The weekend features a pizza giveaway, along with the start of a tournament for EA Sports' NHL 20, the winner of which will receive a copy of the video game.

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