Orange kick off conference play with 7 p.m. puck drop versus RIT Friday, noon faceoff Saturday
SYRACUSE (1-9) VS RIT (2-5-1, 0-2-0 CHA)
Game 1: 7 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 1
Game 2: Noon | Saturday, Nov. 2
Location 1: Syracuse, N.Y. | Tennity Ice Pavilion
Location 2: Rochester, N.Y. | Gene Polisseni Center
Game Links: Game 1 stream | Game 1 live stats | Game 2 live stats
Twitter: @Cuseice
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
RIT Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The conference title defense officially begins Friday. The Orange are back home at Tennity Ice Pavilion Friday night to open College Hockey America (CHA) play against RIT at 7 p.m. The teams will play a split home-and-home series, with the Tigers hosting the finale at Gene Polisseno Center Saturday at noon. Game one can be seen via Cuse.tv here, and parking and admission to Friday’s game are free.
2018 CHA Recap
Syracuse went 10-8-2 in CHA play last season and had its most prolific year since the program was started back in 2008. The Orange claimed their first conference crown after beating Lindenwood, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris with 4-1, 4-3 and 6-2 victories in the CHA Tournament. The title secured, Syracuse went on to make its first NCAA Tournament berth, taking on Wisconsin in the opening round in Madison, Wisc.
Early season grind
Syracuse started the year grinding against some of the nation’s top teams. The Orange opened the year against No. 3 Clarkson before taking on No. 7 Boston College and No. 3 Northeastern. They went on to play 2018 NCAA Championship runner-up Colgate and No. 6 Princeton the following weekend. With five of the best teams in the NCAA lining up against them, the Orange were arguably playing their toughest slate to open a season in program history.
There was a similar situation in 2010-11 when ‘Cuse opened against No. 8 New Hampshire, No. 9 Boston College, and No. 10 Providence. Syracuse went on to be the runner-up in the CHA Tournament that year, losing, 5-4, to No. 4 Mercyhurst.
Last Time Out
Syracuse picked up its first win of the season Tuesday in a dominant 5-0 shutout of Union in Schenectady, N.Y. The five goals scored by the Orange were the most since their 6-2 CHA Championship win last season against RMU, and marked their first shutout since February of last year. Junior Jessica DiGirolamo netted two goals in the win, while redshirt senior captain Lindsay Eastwood, freshman Anna Leschyshyn, and senior Savannah Rennie each added one of their own. Sophomore Abby Moloughney was also spectacular in the win, grabbing four assists on the day. Senior goalkeeper Ady Cohen got the nod on Tuesday, posting the shutout the second of her career.
Series History
Syracuse leads the all-time series 19-10-3 and holds a 10-2-2 record at home. The last meeting came on Feb. 16, 2019 at Tennity Pavilion, where the teams tied, 1-1, after four periods of play. Overall, the Tigers went 3-0-1 last season against the Orange, scoring 12 goals in four games.
Scouting RIT
RIT (2-5-1, 0-2 CHA), is coming off of back-to-back wins against Brown University last weekend where they netted 10 goals in the two-game series. Freshman Rachel Goff has quickly made her mark for the Tigers, tallying four goals and two assists in her eight games, while Hunter Barnett, a sophomore forward, has tallied four goals of her own. In all, nine different players have found the back of the net for RIT so far this season.
Between the pipes for the Tigers is reigning CHA player of the year, and RIT’s all-time leader in saves, Terra Lanteigne. The senior goaltender has 212 saves this season, for a save percentage of .918 in her five starts this season.
Looking Ahead
After their two games against RIT, the Orange will have a week off before hitting the ice again. The Orange will take on St. Lawrence on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 pm. The matchup will be played at War Memorial Arena, the home of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Admission to the game is free.
