Saarela’s Hat Trick Powers 'Cuse Past RMU; Series Finale is Saturday

Friday, December 6

Syracuse, NY

6 pm

Syracuse University

6-12-0, 4-3-0

Robert Morris

5-11-1, 0-6-1

Robert Morris

Syracuse

Saarela’s Hat Trick Powers 'Cuse Past RMU; Series Finale is Saturday

12/6/2024 9:30:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse University women's ice hockey team powered past Robert Morris, 4-1, Friday night at Tennity Ice Pavilion in an Atlantic Hockey America showdown. Bryn Saarela netted her first career hat trick and had one assist in the win. The Orange will play the Colonials in the series finale on Saturday at 3 pm at Tennity.

Syracuse (6-12-0, 4-3-0 AHA) took an early lead with a goal from Tatum White that was assisted by Saarela. After the Colonials equalized with a score, the graduate student put together a natural hat trick, scoring the eventual game-winning goal in the first period and adding two additional tallies in the third frame.

Goalkeeper Allie Kelley anchored the 'Cuse defense, making 20 saves, catching all nine of the Colonials' shots on goal in the third period.

Robert Morris (5-11-1, 0-6-1 AHA) got on the board when Lindsey Smolen tallied an unassisted goal in the first period. Goalkeeper Maggie Hatch made 34 saves for the Colonials.

How it Happened

The Orange opened the scoring less than three minutes into the first period, with White finding the net on a setup from Saarela.
Robert Morris's Smolen netted the equalizer later in the period with an unassisted shot from the left side of the rink.
Syracuse controlled the pace for the remainder of the first period, taking a 2-1 lead on Saarela's goal in the 13th minute, which was set up by Jackson Kinsler and Sami Gendron.
A staunch defensive effort from Syracuse kept RMU off the board through the second period of play.
Not even two minutes into the third period, Saarela added an insurance goal, increasing the Orange 3-1 lead. White and Stella Costabile recorded helpers on the score.
RMU fired 25 total shots in the final period, but was unable to find the net, as the 'Cuse defense held strong.
Saarela completed the hat trick with an empty net goal at the 18:36 mark securing the Orange's 4-1 victory.

Head Coach Britni Smith
"I thought we played as a pretty solid team tonight. We had some tight moments during the game, which is to be expected but overall it feels like we really executed. I was excited to see us win the first period. That was our focus this game: come out a little harder than we have in the past. So we challenged them and they had a response."

Behind the Numbers

Saarela tallied her sixth, seventh and eighth goals this season for the Orange, while also completing her first-career hat trick.
The hat trick was the first by a Syracuse player since Sarah Thompson netted three goals against Post on Nov. 25, 2022. It was the first natural hat trick for Syracuse since Feb. 20, 2021, when Anna Leschyshyn delivered one against LIU.
White recorded her fourth goal of the season for the Orange.
'Cuse went 100-percent in penalty-kill situations, shutting down all three of RMU's power-play scenarios.
Syracuse tallied a total of 13 blocks. Carly Sardine and Celia Wiegand led the Orange with a pair of blocks.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange concludes alumni weekend on Saturday, Dec. 7 for game two of the Robert Morris series at Tennity Ice Pavilion.
Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live on FloHockey.