Friday, March 5
Erie, PA
2 PM
Syracuse University
3
vs
2
#7 Penn State (No. 4 seed)
Orange Secure a Spot in CHA Championship Game
3/5/2021 8:37:00 PM | Ice Hockey
The Syracuse ice hockey team will play in the 2021 College Hockey America Tournament Championship game after beating 7th-ranked Penn State, 3-2, in the semifinal on Friday at Erie Ice Arena. The Orange (12-8-1 overall, 8-6-1 CHA) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two periods and then held off the top-seeded Nittany Lions (16-3-2, 16-2-2) in the final 10 minutes of the game to earn the victory. Syracuse will play the winner of the second semifinal game between Robert Morris and Mercyhurst in the championship on Saturday at 6 pm (StretchTV).
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"That was exciting. That was our fifth time playing Penn State this year, all close games, so we certainly expected another close one today," said Head Coach Paul Flanagan. "We kind of let them back into it after taking advantage of our chances early to build the lead. Letting them back in it is a little disappointing, but at the same time, like I told the team, maybe it makes us better for it down the road. We had to weather the storm, but our kids really responded in the last 10 minutes making plays and getting it out of the zone. We had tremendous energy throughout the game. It's a huge win for us."
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With less than three minutes remaining in the opening period, forward Madison Beishuizen scored her first goal of the season by getting a deflection off of a Penn State skate to send the puck into the back of the net. Freshman Sarah Thompson and senior Kristen Siermachesky combined to send Beishuizen into the offensive zone.
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In the second period, forward Anna Leschyshyn buried a deflected cross-goal pass from senior Emma Polaski and redshirt junior Marielle McHale to give the Orange a 2-0 lead at the 4:33 mark. Eight minutes later, Polaski gave the Orange a 3-0 advantage by rocketing a shot into the net on assists from Beishuizen and Siermachesky.
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Syracuse goaltender Allison Small earned 24 saves, increasing her career total to 1,162. Her .941 save percentage ranks 10th nationally this season.
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"That was exciting. That was our fifth time playing Penn State this year, all close games, so we certainly expected another close one today," said Head Coach Paul Flanagan. "We kind of let them back into it after taking advantage of our chances early to build the lead. Letting them back in it is a little disappointing, but at the same time, like I told the team, maybe it makes us better for it down the road. We had to weather the storm, but our kids really responded in the last 10 minutes making plays and getting it out of the zone. We had tremendous energy throughout the game. It's a huge win for us."
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With less than three minutes remaining in the opening period, forward Madison Beishuizen scored her first goal of the season by getting a deflection off of a Penn State skate to send the puck into the back of the net. Freshman Sarah Thompson and senior Kristen Siermachesky combined to send Beishuizen into the offensive zone.
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In the second period, forward Anna Leschyshyn buried a deflected cross-goal pass from senior Emma Polaski and redshirt junior Marielle McHale to give the Orange a 2-0 lead at the 4:33 mark. Eight minutes later, Polaski gave the Orange a 3-0 advantage by rocketing a shot into the net on assists from Beishuizen and Siermachesky.
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Syracuse goaltender Allison Small earned 24 saves, increasing her career total to 1,162. Her .941 save percentage ranks 10th nationally this season.
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Players Mentioned
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