The Daily OrangeSU unable to convert power plays during weekend split
By David F. Baer
Posted: 11/9/09, 3:44 AM EST Section: Sports
The Syracuse ice hockey team's bench spent the final 24.7 seconds leaning over the boards in anticipation against CHA rival Niagara Saturday.
Down by one and with its goalie pulled, the Orange had a six-on-four power play opportunity with a faceoff in the Purple Eagles' zone upcoming. SU got good looks with 16.7 and 9.9 seconds left, but was unable to find the back of the net.
"I mean you are a man down, so the pressure is on," SU goalie Lucy Schoedel said Saturday. "We had a bunch of penalty kills before that, but unfortunately we weren't able to kill that one off. It's early in the season, so there's stuff we can work on, stuff that's not too detrimental."
Syracuse (4-5-1, 1-1) finished 0-8 on power play opportunities in two games this weekend. On the flip side, Niagara's (4-4-2, 1-1) power-play goal with less than two minutes remaining was the difference in the game.
Schoedel and the Orange were able to kill a power play with less than three minutes remaining Friday night in a 2-1 win against Niagara. Syracuse committed another late penalty in Saturday's game as well, but unlike Friday, allowed Niagara to score. The Orange couldn't capitalize late, and ended up losing the game 3-2, splitting the weekend series with the Purple Eagles.
Syracuse's win Friday night came in its first home and conference game of the season. The Orange scored in the first period for the first time all season, and added to its lead early in the second period.
After Niagara scored midway through the second period, SU held off a late Purple Eagles charge for the 2-1 win. Syracuse assistant coach Graham Thomas thinks the Orange can use this weekend as a starting point for its season.
"I think getting our first home win this weekend was big," Thomas said. "We established that these conference games aren't going to be easy. We can't take any team lightly, especially in such a small conference where you only have four other teams. Every game is a battle, and we need to make sure that we come to each prepared. I think that was a big lesson learned. We can't take even one shift off. If we're not ready to play, the result is going to be what happened in today's game."
Down by one and with its goalie pulled, the Orange had a six-on-four power play opportunity with a faceoff in the Purple Eagles' zone upcoming. SU got good looks with 16.7 and 9.9 seconds left, but was unable to find the back of the net.
"I mean you are a man down, so the pressure is on," SU goalie Lucy Schoedel said Saturday. "We had a bunch of penalty kills before that, but unfortunately we weren't able to kill that one off. It's early in the season, so there's stuff we can work on, stuff that's not too detrimental."
Syracuse (4-5-1, 1-1) finished 0-8 on power play opportunities in two games this weekend. On the flip side, Niagara's (4-4-2, 1-1) power-play goal with less than two minutes remaining was the difference in the game.
Schoedel and the Orange were able to kill a power play with less than three minutes remaining Friday night in a 2-1 win against Niagara. Syracuse committed another late penalty in Saturday's game as well, but unlike Friday, allowed Niagara to score. The Orange couldn't capitalize late, and ended up losing the game 3-2, splitting the weekend series with the Purple Eagles.
Syracuse's win Friday night came in its first home and conference game of the season. The Orange scored in the first period for the first time all season, and added to its lead early in the second period.
After Niagara scored midway through the second period, SU held off a late Purple Eagles charge for the 2-1 win. Syracuse assistant coach Graham Thomas thinks the Orange can use this weekend as a starting point for its season.
"I think getting our first home win this weekend was big," Thomas said. "We established that these conference games aren't going to be easy. We can't take any team lightly, especially in such a small conference where you only have four other teams. Every game is a battle, and we need to make sure that we come to each prepared. I think that was a big lesson learned. We can't take even one shift off. If we're not ready to play, the result is going to be what happened in today's game."
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