ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Syracuse women’s hockey team (5-7-4, 4-2-2 CHA) bounced back from Friday’s tie with a 3-0 win on the road against the Rochester Institute of Technology (3-16-1, 1-6-1 CHA) on Saturday afternoon.
“We had a strong third period and were able to score a couple late goals to break open a 1-0 game,” head coach Paul Flanagan said. “Maddi (Welch) made some big saves and our ‘D’ corp worked hard for the shutout.”
Dakota Derrer scored first for the Orange in the second period from just inside the blue line. Derrer fired the shot through traffic and past the RIT goaltender for her first goal of the season. Heather Schwarz and Allie Munroe assisted on the play.
In the third period, Alysha Burriss gave the Orange breathing room with a goal on a two-on-one situation. Schwarz had her second assist of the day on the play. With a little over a minute left in the game, Stephanie Grossi scored on an empty net for her fifth goal of the season.
Sophomore goaltender Maddi Welch got the starting nod in net and recorded her first career shutout. She had 20 saves on the day. It was the second start of the season for Welch after starting against Bemidji State on Oct. 1. She recorded a career-high 27 saves in that game.
With the win, Syracuse moves into second place in the College Hockey America standings with 10 points in conference play (two points are awarded for wins, one point for ties and no points for losses). The Orange trail Robert Morris, who remains unbeaten in conference play with a 7-0-1 record. The two teams played in Pittsburgh earlier this season, tying in the first game, 2-2, and the Colonials won the second 2-1. They will meet again on Jan. 27 and 28 in Syracuse.
Syracuse will be back in action on Dec. 9 and 10 against No. 5 Clarkson in a home-and-home. The first game will be played in Syracuse at Tennity Ice Pavilion and the second will be in Potsdam, N.Y.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse women’s ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseIce), Instagram (@CusePics & @CuseIce) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
