Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU ice hockey looks for revenge against conference-rival Niagara
By Zach Brown
Posted: 11/5/09, 8:55 PM EST Section: Sports
Last year, the Syracuse ice hockey team's inaugural season ended in defeat. In the program's first ever playoff game, the Orange suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Niagara.
Players said disappointment and frustration filled the locker room afterward. Syracuse had compiled a 2-0-2 record against the Purple Eagles during the regular season. But when the game really counted, the Orange could not pull out the victory.
This weekend, Syracuse (3-4-1) will get its first two chances to avenge that loss. The Orange will take on Niagara (3-3-2) at Tennity Ice Pavilion tonight at 7 p.m. in SU's home opener, before the two team's square off again on Saturday at 2 p.m. The team believes that the revenge factor and the competitiveness of last year's games have turned the matchup into a budding rivalry.
Senior goaltender Lucy Schoedel said the Orange's returning players have been thinking about this game since they got off the bus after last season's loss.
"We were obviously thinking about it for the upcoming season since the moment we got back from that game," she said. "It was a disappointing loss, and I think those of us who were here last year are really eager to play them again, so we're looking forward to that."
Games like the one last year are not easily forgotten. Syracuse, the No. 4 seed in the College Hockey America tournament last year, and fifth-seeded Niagara, battled to a 2-2 tie late in the game. With 3:50 remaining in the third period, the Orange appeared to take the lead on a goal by forward Megan Skelly. But the referees ruled that the net had been dislodged before the puck crossed the goal line, erasing the go-ahead score.
One minute later, the Purple Eagles put away a rebound shot to take a 3-2 lead. SU could not overcome the late deficit, and its season came to an end.
But that was not the only close encounter the Orange had with Niagara last year. The teams fought to 1-1 ties in the two games at Niagara. When they played at Syracuse, the Orange pulled out a 2-1 victory in the first game and scored an empty-net goal late in the second game to earn a 3-1 win.
Players said disappointment and frustration filled the locker room afterward. Syracuse had compiled a 2-0-2 record against the Purple Eagles during the regular season. But when the game really counted, the Orange could not pull out the victory.
This weekend, Syracuse (3-4-1) will get its first two chances to avenge that loss. The Orange will take on Niagara (3-3-2) at Tennity Ice Pavilion tonight at 7 p.m. in SU's home opener, before the two team's square off again on Saturday at 2 p.m. The team believes that the revenge factor and the competitiveness of last year's games have turned the matchup into a budding rivalry.
Senior goaltender Lucy Schoedel said the Orange's returning players have been thinking about this game since they got off the bus after last season's loss.
"We were obviously thinking about it for the upcoming season since the moment we got back from that game," she said. "It was a disappointing loss, and I think those of us who were here last year are really eager to play them again, so we're looking forward to that."
Games like the one last year are not easily forgotten. Syracuse, the No. 4 seed in the College Hockey America tournament last year, and fifth-seeded Niagara, battled to a 2-2 tie late in the game. With 3:50 remaining in the third period, the Orange appeared to take the lead on a goal by forward Megan Skelly. But the referees ruled that the net had been dislodged before the puck crossed the goal line, erasing the go-ahead score.
One minute later, the Purple Eagles put away a rebound shot to take a 3-2 lead. SU could not overcome the late deficit, and its season came to an end.
But that was not the only close encounter the Orange had with Niagara last year. The teams fought to 1-1 ties in the two games at Niagara. When they played at Syracuse, the Orange pulled out a 2-1 victory in the first game and scored an empty-net goal late in the second game to earn a 3-1 win.
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