Orange Beats PSU to Close 2020

Saturday, December 12

Syracuse, NY

3 PM

Syracuse University

2-4-1

Penn State

4-1-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Penn St.	1	1	0	2
Syracuse	1	1	2	4

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

12/12/2020 7:17:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In the third period, Syracuse scored a pair of goals and shutdown Penn State to secure a 4-2 victory at Tennity Ice Pavilion on Saturday night. The Orange (2-4-1 overall, 2-2-1 College Hockey America) outshot the Nittany Lions15-13 in the final period and had 13 saves from goalie Allison Small to earn the win. Seniors Emma Polaski and Victoria Klimek, junior Abby Moloughney and freshman Sarah Thompson each scored a goal and tallied an assist for Syracuse.

"It was a good effort today," said head coach Paul Flanagan. "The conversation before the game was that we had to lay it on the line and give it everything. The kids answered the bell from the start of the second period and continued it right to the very end. We defended well and, when Penn State had their chances, Allison was there. She made good saves down the stretch. We have to recognize why we were successful today, bottle up that momentum and know that is the way we have to play. We are capable of it."

After Penn State's Olivia Wallin scored to give the Nittany Lions (4-1-1, 4-1-1) a 1-0 lead at the 11:23 mark in the first period, Thompson tied the game less than two minutes later, assisted by Polaski and Victoria Klimek. Thompson had one goal and a pair of assists in the weekend series against PSU.

The teams also traded goals in the second period. PSU scored first when Wallin tallied her second of the game 3:35 into the period. Syracuse tied the game for the second time when Abby Moloughney buried a rebound off of a shot from teammate Anna Leschyshyn with 7:40 left in the period. Moloughney led the Orange with four points, including two goals and two assists, in the two-game series against Penn State.

In the third period, Polaski scored the game-winner on a power play goal, with an assist from Moloughney, to give the Orange a 3-2 lead with 16 minutes remaining in the game. Klimek iced the game scoring an empty net goal with 11 seconds remaining for the 4-2 Syracuse victory.

Small increased her career saves total to 828 with 34 in the game. Her career save percentage of .917 ranks second in Orange history behind Kallie Billadeau's mark of .918, which she recorded from 2010 through 2014.

Syracuse will return to the ice in January to resume CHA play.

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