Leschyshyn's Hat Trick Leads 'Cuse to Weekend Sweep

Saturday, February 20

Syracuse, NY

2 PM

Syracuse University

8-8-1

LIU

2-8-0

LIU

Syracuse

Photo by: Zoe Davis

Leschyshyn's Hat Trick Leads 'Cuse to Weekend Sweep

2/20/2021 6:09:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

Sophomore forward Anna Leschyshyn recorded her first career hat trick in Syracuse's 5-0 win against Long Island on Saturday. She scored the second, third and fourth goals for the Orange, producing Syracuse's first natural hat trick since Lindsay Eastwood recorded one in March 2019. Leschyshyn scored six points in the Syracuse (8-8-1 overall, 6-8-1 College Hockey America) weekend sweep of LIU (2-8). The Orange will celebrate the Class of 2021 on Senior Night when they host RIT for the final home game of the season on Tuesday, February 23rd at 6 pm. The game and the Senior Night ceremony will be streamed live on Cuse.com.

"It was a good win today to continue our win streak. We are trying to build some positivity and momentum to carry into Tuesday's game and next weekend, as well," said head coach Paul Flanagan. "It was a good weekend, particularly for some of our younger players to get a bit more ice time and handle the puck more. Sometimes in games that are really close and tight checking they just don't get the puck on their stick a lot. This weekend they were able to do that which was good."

Leschyshyn was one of five Orange skaters with a multi-point game. Freshman Hannah Johnson contributed three assists, junior Lauren Bellefontaine had one goal and one assist, and senior Kristen Siermachesky and redshirt sophomore Marielle McHale each tallied two assists. Freshmen goaltender Amelia Van Vliet earned her first career shutout, recording 18 saves, and her second consecutive win in net.

"Anna wanted the puck this weekend," Flanagan said. "Last night and today you could see her beaming on the bench and feeling confident. We've known all along she has a real good shot. Four of her goals were nice shots where she was picking corners and she had a good, quick release. That's how you score goals."

Bellefontaine opened the 'Cuse scoring with a power play goal seven minutes into the first. Sophomore Mae Batherson and senior Jessica DiGirolamo connected to set up the goal.

In the second period, Leschyshyn had two goals. Johnson and McHale assisted on the first Leschyshyn score nearly eight minutes into the period. Siermachesky had the helper on the second goal with less than five minutes left in the second.

Midway through the third period Leschyshyn secured her hat trick getting assists from McHale and Johnson. Junior Abby Moloughney closed the scoring with less than nine minutes remaining in the game when Bellefontaine fed the puck on to Moloughney after a quick one-two with Siermachesky.

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