Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Following Syracuse’s weekend series against Mercyhurst, the Lakers looked to be its biggest Kryptonite. The Orange have accumulated a 13-51-4 record against Mercyhurst, losing the last 10 matchups. However, entering Tuesday, SU carried a 1-15-0 record against Cornell dating back to 2010.

Besides SU losing 94% of those matchups, the other constant has been its extreme amount of goals allowed. The Orange’s defense has consistently struggled, surrendering 85 goals over their 15 losses, an average of nearly six per game. Thirty of those 85 goals have also occurred in the final period, a 35.3% clip.

And on Tuesday, Syracuse (7-17-0, 5-5-0 Atlantic Hockey America) raised those numbers even more, allowing six goals in its 6-3 loss to No. 6 Cornell (12-4-3, 8-2-2 Eastern College Athletic Conference). The Orange held a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, but a third-period collapse allowed Cornell to take its first lead of the game and seal the victory.

Early on, Syracuse’s offense was stagnant, tallying just four shots on goal in the first period. Yet, the Orange found the back of the net twice, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. In the second period, Cornell battled back, though, scoring two of its own to even the score.

However, the third period is when SU faltered, leading to its defeat in the final nonconference matchup of its 2024-25 season. To start the final frame, the Big Red carried the momentum, and it showed right away. Though Nea Tervonen won the faceoff for SU, Cornell immediately stole the puck and pushed forward.

The Big Red fired two quick shots in the first two minutes, one that rattled off Allie Kelley’s pads while the other was shot wide. When Syracuse received the puck back, Cornell shut it down with ease. Jackson Kinsler took back-to-back tries, but both were rejected by the Big Red’s backline. Then, Stella Costabile’s attempt was stonewalled by Grace Dwyer, silencing SU’s attack. The shots were three of Syracuse’s limited 10 attempts in the frame.

“(Cornell’s) a top team for a reason. They do a good job of playing the 200-foot game,” SU head coach Britni Smith said postgame. “We knew our opportunities were going to be limited … nothing that we didn’t expect.”

When Cornell’s raid restarted, things got scrappy. Tervonen was called for interference, leading to the Big Red’s third power play of the night. Just 19 seconds later, Avi Adam, Cornell’s second-leading scorer, put a shot on net. It was saved by Kelley, but nine seconds later, the Big Red took their first lead on a Lindzi Avar score. The goal was Cornell’s second power play score of the night, but it was just the beginning of SU’s collapse.

When Tervoven returned to the ice, the Orange were down just one goal, an attainable deficit they could flip at any moment. Yet, it didn’t take long for Cornell to double its lead, forcing SU’s come-from-behind efforts.

Twenty-seven seconds after the advantage ended, Delaney Fleming stood on the left crease of the rink. Prefontaine and Lily Delianedis scrambled toward the net before finding Fleming open on the flank. When she received the puck, she ripped it into the top corner to give Cornell a 4-2 lead.

At the same time the goal was scored, Charlotte Hallett was called for interference, giving Cornell yet another opportunity. Luckily for the Orange, the advantage didn’t last long as Katie Chan was called for tripping. Still, with Syracuse ahead a player, one shot by Kinsler wasn’t going to be enough.

“I thought we did a good job with, when they came, finding ways to be threatening. But it would be nice to generate more offense for sure,” Smith said. “We knew it was going to be some tough offense to come by.”

With SU unable to capitalize, the Big Red took the next seven shots and continuously wore down SU’s backline.

Finally, on the eighth try, Dwyer scored her first goal of the season. With the netter diminishing Syracuse’s chances on the scoreboard, its offense still found no fight, shooting just one of the game’s next nine shots.

Following limited chances, Jocelyn Fiala finally scored for SU, its first goal since the opening period. Tervonen skated down the left side of the ice, knocking a shot off Cornell goaltender Annelies Bergmann. The puck bounced right to Fiala, who, with zero hesitation, nailed it home for the Orange.

With under two minutes remaining, Syracuse’s chances were still little to none. Kelley exited the goal, allowing Cornell’s Kaitlin Jockims to add one more to seal its victory.

Through Syracuse’s first five games of the new year, it holds a 0-5-0 record. Despite playing three games against top-10 teams, the Orange have folded down the stretch, allowing nine of their 20 goals in the third period (45%).

“They’ll wear you down. That’s what good teams do is they find ways to continue to pressure,” Smith said. “Nothing to be concerned with on our end. We just continue to work to be a tough defensive team.”

Published on January 14, 2025 at 10:25 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_