Orange Top Tigers Friday Night

Friday, February 7

Syracuse, NY

7 PM

Syracuse University

10-16-1, 8-4-1

RIT

9-16-2, 2-11-0

RIT

Syracuse

2/7/2020 10:40:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse and RIT faced off for the third time this season Friday night and the Orange used the opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the season series, beating the Tigers 3-1 at Tennity Ice Pavilion. Senior Anonda Hoppner got Syracuse rolling in the second period with her fifth goal of the season, and freshman Brynn Koocher netted her sixth of the year 13 minutes later. Senior Savannah Rennie capped off the Orange victory with her 26th career lamp-lighter. Senior Ady Cohen tallied 23 saves and held the Tigers scoreless until the final two minutes of the game.

"We came out with some pretty good opportunities early on," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "We've had a tough time against RIT for the last couple of years, but I think we initially came out really focused and the game went well for us. The kids were getting on the loose pucks and forcing them back on their heels. Our kids were motivated offensively and that led to a lot of our chances tonight."

How it happened:
'Cuse came out firing on all cylinders, taking 33 shots in the first period and showing a noticeably higher amount of energy on the ice. Junior Emma Polaski led the charge with five shots of her own, the first coming off of a wide open breakaway thee minutes into the game that she couldn't wrap around the goalie's outstretched leg. The Orange's more organized start kept them out of the penalty box in the first, while RIT's Taylor Baker and Jordan Marchese each spent some time for holding and hooking, respectively.

The Orange were electric in the second. Hoppner found the back of the net within the first two minutes, with apples coming from sophomore Abby Moloughney and Rennie. Koocher joined the fun with just over five minutes remaining, grabbing her own rebound and slipping a second chance past Terra Lanteigne's left side to put 'Cuse ahead 2-0. Cohen maintained her clean sheet through the second with help from 'Cuse's defense, which allowed just seven shots to reach their netminder.

Syracuse kept the pressure on in the final stanza. Freshman Madison Beishuizen took a huge hit at the Orange blueline from RIT's Justine Larkin, the strike earning Larkin a 5-minute major for boarding. Syracuse couldn't convert on the powerplay, but Rennie managed to bury Syracuse's third and final goal away with three minutes to go. The Tigers finally worked to answer the Orange in the closing minutes of the third period, Baker whizzing a shot past Cohen to snap the shutout.

Up Next
The Orange close out the series tomorrow night in Rochester, N.Y. Puck drop at Gene Polisseni Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. and fans can follow the action live via Stretch.

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