Mercyhurst Defeats Orange in Decisive Game of AHA Semis

Sunday, March 2

Erie, PA

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

15-23-0

Mercyhurst

20-15-2

Syracuse

Mercyhurst

Mercyhurst Defeats Orange in Decisive Game of AHA Semis

3/2/2025 4:41:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

ERIE, PA. - Syracuse University women's ice hockey fell 5-2 to Mercyhurst in a hard-fought game three in the AHA semifinals on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers added two late goals in the final 70 seconds, while the Orange added an extra skater in hopes of evening the score.

Syracuse (15-23-0, 11-10-0 AHA) saw Heidi Knoll and Jessica Cheung light the lamp in the loss. The Orange's Peyton Armstrong and Celia Wiegand provided the helpers in the contest. Goalkeeper Allie Kelley made 41 saves in the loss.

Mercyhurst (20-15-2, 14-6-1 AHA) got a hat trick from Thea Johanasson. In the net, goaltender Magdalena Luggin registered 16 saves to keep the Lakers ahead.

How it Happened

Just over four minutes into the first period, Knoll jump-started the Orange offense, picking off a pass, flying into the offensive zone and snapping a wrister past Luggin's glove for an unassisted goal, giving Syracuse a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first frame, Upson disrupted Syracuse's power play, gained control and snapped a shot for a shorthanded goal, set up by Johansson, to knot the game 1-1.
Early in the middle frame, Johansson gave the Lakers the lead by ripping a shot from the slot off a feed from Megan McKay and Sara Schalin to make it 2-1.
Syracuse answered just a minute later as Cheung buried a rebound, finishing off a setup from Armstrong and Wiegand to tie the game at 2-2.
Schalin scored the eventual game-winning goal at 8:47 of the third period, giving Mercyhurst a 3-2 edge.
With two minutes remaining, Johansson found the net to complete a hat trick and extend the Lakers lead to 4-2. Sofia Nuutinen and Sofia Ljung were credited with the assists.
While seconds counted down, Schalin took advantage of the open ice and reeled the puck into the net assisted by Upson to seal the Lakers 5-2 victory.

Behind the Numbers

Syracuse out-blocked the Lakers, 16-11. Sami Gendron and Cheung led the effort with three blocks each for the Orange.
Cheung netted her second goal of the season, while Knoll tallied her fifth.
Syracuse limited Mercyhurst to just 1-for-4 on the power play.

Up Next for Syracuse