Junior goaltender Jenn Gilligan recorded a career-high 44 saves, including thwarting two North Dakota power plays in the final seven minutes, while Melissa Piacentini and Alysha Burriss each found the back of the net for the Orange to close non-conference play with a 2-1 win over North Dakota.
The Orange (6-10-7, 4-2-3 CHA) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the game and withstood a late barrage from UND (10-10-2, 6-8-2 WCHA) to snap its two-game losing streak and earn its second win in 12 tries against teams from the WCHA.
Piacentini capitalized on the Orange’s first power play of the game, her sixth goal on extra-man opportunities this season, which ties her for second in the nation in the category. Stephanie Grossi and Nicole Renault were credited with the assists on the play.
The Orange took the 1-0 lead into the dressing room, however it wouldn’t take long upon ‘Cuse’s return to the ice for it to up the lead to 2-0.
Burriss lit the lamp 29 seconds into the second period for the eventual game-winning tally. Piacentini and Grossi dished out the assists, with Grossi’s second assist reaching the 20-point plateau on the season.
North Dakota got one back later in the period when Gracen Hirschey scored with 7:29 to play in the period, but Gilligan wouldn’t allow anything else behind her as she withstood all-six UND power plays in the game.
The win was the 98th in program history.
Next up for Syracuse is a matchup with No. 9 Mercyhurst, who the Orange defeated for the first time in program history earlier this season in the last meeting between the teams. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 in Erie, Pa.
