Thursday, March 5
Buffalo, NY
3 PM
Syracuse University
14-19-2
4
vs
0
Lindenwood (No. 6 seed)
5-24-5
1
2
3
F
Lindenwood
0
0
0
0
Syracuse
1
1
2
4
Klimek’s Hat Trick Carries 'Cuse Past Lindenwood, Sets Up Friday Game vs. RMU
3/5/2020 6:15:00 PM | Ice Hockey
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Three-seed Syracuse opened the 2020 College Hockey America Tournament with a 4-0 shutout of sixth-seed Lindenwood to advance to the semifinals for the ninth time in program history. Victoria Klimek recorded the fourth postseason hat trick in program history, and Allison Small recorded her fourth career shutout. Syracuse has now registered 103 goals and 269 points this season, both marks new program records. The win sets up 'Cuse to play two-seed Robert Morris Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y. Fans can watch the game via the CHA Digital Network and follow live stats here.
"I give Lindenwood a lot of credit, they made us earn this win," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "I'm sure their game plan was to lurk and wait for us to make a mistake, and at times we did, but when we did cough it up, I thought Allison did a good job and our defensemen helped clear out some rebounds. I think this win was good for us to settle into a groove with all the distractions of the week. I'm not going to say this was a dress rehearsal or a warm up, but this was a good opportunity for us to get used to this ice and the atmosphere. Now it's time for us to clean up some mistakes we made and get ready for Robert Morris."
How it happened:
Syracuse controlled possession and kept the puck in the attacking zone for much of the opening period. The Lions went on the power play two minutes in, but the Orange limited them to just one shot while a skater-up to eventually kill the penalty. Syracuse took the lead a little over halfway through the period when Klimek settled a pass from Shleby Calof up high and rocketed it past Annika Asplundh to put 'Cuse ahead 1-0. The Orange outshot the competition 15-5 in the first period.
It took just two shots and 39 seconds into the second period for Syracuse to go up 2-0 on Lindenwood. The Orange's second of the night came from Lindsay Eastwood on a redirect between the circles, the puck's momentum coming off a slap-pass from Savannah Rennie. The Orange didn't lay off the gas and continued to pepper Aspundh, the sophomore goalie turning away nine shots in the middle period.
Lindenwood tried to fight its way back in the third period but it was too little too late. While the Lions did outshoot Syracuse 12-8 in the frame, the Orange defense buckled down to prevent any goals. Klimek scored her second of the night eight minutes in and capped off the night with a final empty-netter with less than a minute left in the game to launch the Orange into the next round.
Semifinal matchup
Friday's meeting between two-seed Robert Morris and 'Cuse will be just the third time the programs have met in the CHA Tournament. The team's hold a 1-1 postseason record against each other, and the Orange have outscored the Colonials 6-4.
The first meeting was during the 2017 championship game where 'Cuse lost 2-0. Syracuse and RMU then played in the 2019 final where the Orange won 6-2 to claim the first postseason crown in program history.
The Colonials are led by senior forward and 2020 CHA Scoring Champion Jaycee Gebhard (18-42-60). Gebhard ranks fourth in the country in scoring. RMU's power play ranks third in the country, scoring 25 perfect of the time.
Backing up RMU is freshman Ragan Kirk (14-7-1). Her 2.06 GAA is good for 22nd in the country, whie her .926 SV% ranks 17th. She's tied at eighth in the nation in shutouts with four. Kirk is 3-1-1 in her last five entering the tournament.
For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
"I give Lindenwood a lot of credit, they made us earn this win," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "I'm sure their game plan was to lurk and wait for us to make a mistake, and at times we did, but when we did cough it up, I thought Allison did a good job and our defensemen helped clear out some rebounds. I think this win was good for us to settle into a groove with all the distractions of the week. I'm not going to say this was a dress rehearsal or a warm up, but this was a good opportunity for us to get used to this ice and the atmosphere. Now it's time for us to clean up some mistakes we made and get ready for Robert Morris."
Klimek gets the hat trick in the dying moments of the third to get Syracuse into the semifinals with a 4-0 victory over Lindenwood! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/qbds3l48IM
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) March 5, 2020
How it happened:
Syracuse controlled possession and kept the puck in the attacking zone for much of the opening period. The Lions went on the power play two minutes in, but the Orange limited them to just one shot while a skater-up to eventually kill the penalty. Syracuse took the lead a little over halfway through the period when Klimek settled a pass from Shleby Calof up high and rocketed it past Annika Asplundh to put 'Cuse ahead 1-0. The Orange outshot the competition 15-5 in the first period.
It took just two shots and 39 seconds into the second period for Syracuse to go up 2-0 on Lindenwood. The Orange's second of the night came from Lindsay Eastwood on a redirect between the circles, the puck's momentum coming off a slap-pass from Savannah Rennie. The Orange didn't lay off the gas and continued to pepper Aspundh, the sophomore goalie turning away nine shots in the middle period.
Lindenwood tried to fight its way back in the third period but it was too little too late. While the Lions did outshoot Syracuse 12-8 in the frame, the Orange defense buckled down to prevent any goals. Klimek scored her second of the night eight minutes in and capped off the night with a final empty-netter with less than a minute left in the game to launch the Orange into the next round.
Semifinal matchup
Friday's meeting between two-seed Robert Morris and 'Cuse will be just the third time the programs have met in the CHA Tournament. The team's hold a 1-1 postseason record against each other, and the Orange have outscored the Colonials 6-4.
The first meeting was during the 2017 championship game where 'Cuse lost 2-0. Syracuse and RMU then played in the 2019 final where the Orange won 6-2 to claim the first postseason crown in program history.
The Colonials are led by senior forward and 2020 CHA Scoring Champion Jaycee Gebhard (18-42-60). Gebhard ranks fourth in the country in scoring. RMU's power play ranks third in the country, scoring 25 perfect of the time.
Backing up RMU is freshman Ragan Kirk (14-7-1). Her 2.06 GAA is good for 22nd in the country, whie her .926 SV% ranks 17th. She's tied at eighth in the nation in shutouts with four. Kirk is 3-1-1 in her last five entering the tournament.
For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
Team Stats
LWU
SU
Shots
21
33
PPG
0
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
1
Penalty Mins
4
2
Faceoffs Won
35
22
Game Leaders
+/-
+2
Goals
3
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
+2
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
D
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