Third Period Rally Lifts No. 15 Penn St. Over Syracuse 6-2 for Weekend Sweep

Post-Game Update for Syracuse Women’s Ice Hockey on Sunday, Oct. 29:

By Jesse Cook

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- By the time Syracuse women’s ice hockey netminder Allie Kelley lurched her glove into the air from her back like a zombie out of a grave to halt a Penn State shot, the No. 15 Nittany Lions’ 6-2 win was almost a foregone conclusion on Sunday.

That’s how it went for Syracuse all weekend in the first trip into conference play: The Orange went the extra mile, only to come up short to a better team. The Cuse kept it tied until late in the second, but a third period three-goal explosion catapulted P.S.U. to the win.

Kelley’s 35 saves notched her sixth-consecutive performance with more than 30 stops despite falling behind in the team’s fifth loss during that stretch.

S.U. forward Sarah Thompson scored her side’s first goal early in the second period. The senior took a positive note after the loss. She said, “I thought we played a good game today for 90% of the game. I think we played Syracuse hockey, we did that really, really well.”

“We’re just trying to stay positive,” she continued.

Head Coach Britni Smith emphasized the fatigue factor, saying Penn State kept its foot on the gas pedal instead of changing its approach. “I don’t think so, it was an unfortunate third goal for them, and I think it’s just that we didn’t have a response.”

The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead late in the second period. That third goal came as especially back-breaking for the Orange because it came off of a bad change seconds after a failed powerplay had elapsed. Despite taking a woman-advantage six different times throughout the contest, S.U. never recorded a powerplay goal.

“It felt like we sunk into our own shells at the end,” continued Smith.

A triumph from the weekend stemmed from the return of forward Rayla Clemons to the Syracuse lineup. The assistant captain has been linemates with Thompson since their freshman season. “It’s awesome. A lot of the girls joke that we have some type of telepathy out there, so it’s been really nice having her back. She brings a lot of speed to her game, so having her out there on my line is awesome.”

Thompson remarked, “This is a team that never gives up.”

Down 0-2 in conference play and last in the C.H.A., Syracuse will need to keep that mentality with a weekend set with fellow conference competitor Robert Morris on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. The Colonials have split their early C.H.A. record at 1-1.