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Following a season-opening win in which Syracuse dominated Stonehill for all 60 minutes, SU head coach Britni Smith was already focused on the next step. Smith, now in her third season coaching the Orange, knew that Friday night’s result would feel much sweeter if her squad could replicate the effort frequently.

“(The win) was a good start for us,” Smith said following Friday’s season opener. “What’s important is how we come back tomorrow. Our consistency is key.”

The Orange responded with a nearly identical performance. Syracuse (2-0-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey America) mirrored Friday’s result, blanking Stonehill (0-3-0, 0-0-0 New England Women’s Hockey Alliance) 4-0 for the second straight night. Once again, it was four different players delivering for the Orange.

Their eight goals through two games are the most scored in an opening series in over a decade. SU also tallied consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2017.

“It was nice to see us respond,” Smith said postgame Saturday. “There were a couple shifts where we let off the gas a little bit, but being able to turn that around, it’s something we know we can do. It’s nice to see that (the team) values that consistency.”

While it took the Orange just over a minute to score their opening goal on Friday, SU had to wait a bit longer on Saturday.

Despite pelting three shots on goal in the game’s opening five minutes, the Orange couldn’t find the back of the net. While shorthanded, SU’s Tatum White received the puck from Maya D’Arcy in a two-on-one situation, but Stonehill goalkeeper Alexsa Caron lunged out to smother the puck and keep the game scoreless.

The tie wouldn’t last for long, however. With just under seven minutes remaining in the first period, Heidi Knoll worked down the right side of the rink, evaded defenders and wrapped the puck around the face of the goal. Knoll left the puck on the left side of the crease, where Jocelyn Fiala pounced on the loose puck, slotting it through a crowd of defenders and into the net. Again, the Orange had a lead after the first period.

In the first few moments of the second period, the Skyhawks seemed to be inching closer to an equalizer. A long shot from Bailey Feeney clattered off the post, and several others challenged Syracuse goalkeeper Bella Gould. A sophomore appearing in just her second game for the Orange, Gould stayed solid through a flurry of Stonehill shots to open the period.

“It’s great to get (Gould) the opportunity today, and she took full advantage of it,” Smith said. “I thought Stonehill did a good job testing her.”

Despite spending the first part of the second period in its own zone, Syracuse found success on the other end when it had the chance. Rylee McLeod sent a pass from the slot to Charli Kettyle, who blasted a slapshot from the top of the left circle off of a defender’s skate and into the net.

Up two goals, the Orange had a chance to add another at the end of the period. After going 2-for-3 on power play chances Friday, SU fired several shots toward goal while up a player late in the second but failed to convert. The Orange led 2-0 after two periods.

Early into the third, SU continued to push the pace. Two minutes into the third period, Haley Trudeau drifted behind the Stonehill net and played a pass into the slot for Charlotte Hallett, who ripped a shot past Caron and inside the far post.

Two minutes later, the Orange found another. Bearing down on goal in a two-on-one situation, Stella Costabile laid a pass to the top of the crease, where McLeod tucked the puck into the net, SU’s fourth goal of the night.

Just like Friday, all four of SU’s goals came from different players. For three — Fiala, Kettyle and McLeod — it was their first goal with the Orange.

“I’m really confident in this team,” White said. “So far, we’ve proven that we have depth. I’m just really excited to see what we can do the rest of the way.”

Up four goals with 15 minutes to play, the Orange’s focus shifted to finishing strong defensively. Smith emphasized replicating SU’s relentless defensive effort, and the Orange did just that.

Stonehill fired 12 shots in the final period. Every time the Skyhawks let a shot fly, it was either blocked by a defender or Gould’s ever-consistent glove. The Orange stood strong, holding on for another four-goal victory.

“We have a really strong defense this year,” D’Arcy said. “I think just working together, communicating, talking through what’s good, what’s bad about different shifts, we can just build from that.”

Consistency will continue to be the focus for Syracuse as the Orange trek deeper into their regular-season schedule. Despite a stronger start than usual — having only started 2-0 in one of their last five seasons before this year — the Orange are still far from where they want to be.

“Our consistency has been pretty good, but I think it can still be better,” White said. “We have been really good at sticking to our systems and ‘weathering storms,’ as we call it. Obviously, with the two shutouts we’ve had this weekend, we’ve done a great job, but I think our consistency can definitely improve.”

Published on October 5, 2024 at 8:02 pm

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