Syracuse Snaps Winless Streak on Senior Day With Victory Over Stonehill
After concluding conference play last weekend and with one more contest on their schedule before entering the postseason, The Orange looked to end their season on a high note as the Skyhawks of Stonehill College played the role of visitor on Saturday afternoon.
Syracuse Hockey honored the class of 2023 which featured: Mae Batherson, Lauren Bellefontaine, Arielle DeSmet, Brynn Koocher, Marielle McHale, and Anna Leschyshyn. As a fellow member of the next graduating class as a graduate student myself, it was an honor getting to cover their last season playing for The Orange. Now with “pomp and circumstance” aside, a hockey game was on the docket tonight, so it would only be fitting if a senior got the scoring started, right?
At 4:26 into the opening period, Senior forward Marielle McHale started the scoring for Syracuse after letting go a wrister from a Maya D’Arcy feed that got past Stonehill netminder Hanna Zukow; such a poetic moment for one of the honored Seniors to find the back of the net first. The crowd at Tennity in jubilation after McHale was able to tally her 1st goal of the season.
The scoring would not stop for Syracuse in the opening period as the Powerplay found one of their two goals at the 12:28 mark as Rayla Clemons earned her 4th of the season by capitalizing on a rebound off of an initial shot from Hannah Johnson. Coach Britni Smith praised the woman-advantage last weekend after their tilts with Mercyhurst, and it seems as if they did not miss a beat; the epitome of turning defense into offense.
The middle frame would also belong to The Orange, as another honoree found herself on the scoresheet. A dish from Rhea Hicks found the blade of Mae Batherson after pinching into the slot on what would be their second goal on the woman advantage and her 5th of the season. The way Mae snapped it home, it was almost as if she was trying to recreate one of her brother’s goals (Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators).
The Orange would get their final goal of the afternoon at 13:00 as Sarah Thompson made a heads up play by throwing the puck in front of the net. Her shot would deflect off of the skate of a Stonehill player which led to Thompson earning her team-leading 14th goal of the season.
The third and final period saw Stonehill cut The Orange lead in half with goals coming from Alexis Petford, their scoring leader, and Paige Whaley. Time would eventually run out for the Skyhawks as 4-2 would be the final score. This is a result that Syracuse needed before the postseason, and I am more than positive that the vibes are going to be high all week before their eventual CHA Semifinal matchup next weekend.
Next up for The Orange is a matchup with CHA foe Mercyhurst in a Best-of-Three series next weekend starting this coming Friday. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. EST and it will be streamed on FloHockey.