'Cuse Comeback Falls Short; Series Continues Wednesday Night

Tuesday, January 24

Rochester, NY

6 PM

Syracuse University

8-17-1, 5-4-0

RIT

4-20-1, 1-7-1

Syracuse

RIT

Photo by: Tracey Edson

'Cuse Comeback Falls Short; Series Continues Wednesday Night

1/24/2023 9:09:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

Game Details: vs. RIT, January 25th (6 pm)
Watch: Cuse.com
Live Stats
Twitter: @CuseIce
Syracuse: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes

Syracuse fought back from a 4-0 first period deficit to get within one, 4-3, early in the third period, but could not get the equalizer in a loss at RIT. The Tigers scored an empty net goal with 50 seconds left for the final score of 5-3. Syracuse (8-17-1 overall, 5-4 CHA) will host the Tigers in the second game of the home-and-home series on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6 pm at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

"We had a slow start and dug ourselves a hole in the first period,," said head coach Britni Smith. "It was great to see the team's fight and resiliency in the second and third. They battled hard and got themselves back in the game but, ultimately, we couldn't overcome the four goal deficit. We will use this loss as an opportunity to learn and grow. We will be ready to go from the opening faceoff tomorrow."

In the first period, RIT (4-20-1, 1-7-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the game and then scored a pair of power play goals to take a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Junior Sarah Thompson sparked the Orange comeback with a pair of goals in the second period. Two minutes into the middle frame, Thompson corralled a loose puck at the blue line and carried it up the left side of the offensive zone and fed sophomore Erin Brousseau on the crease. Thompson went behind the goal to the right side and one-timed the loose puck into the back of the net to put the Orange on the board. Brousseau and sophomore Madison Primeau assisted on the goal.

Thompson struck again with less than seven minutes to play in the second period. Freshman Rhéa Hicks chased down a loose puck on the goal line and passed it back to a trailing Thompson who fired the shot into the top right corner of the goal to make the score 4-2 with 6:49 left in the second stanza.

Primeau brought the Orange within one, 4-3, 90 seconds into to the third period. Hicks forced a turnover in the corner and sent the puck to Lauren Bellefontaine who gathered it in the right circle and fed Primeau who put a shot into the lower right corner for the score.

Syracuse blocked a season-high 18 shots in the game, with junior Hannah Johnson tallying five and senior Mae Batherson getting four.

For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (/CuseIce), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).