By: Isabella Cucci and Chloe Martinez
Indiana, PA— Syracuse secured its first road win of the season this weekend, splitting a two-game series against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. On Friday, the Orange battled closely with the Crimson Hawks, ultimately falling 6-5 in a shootout. However, Syracuse responded with a strong performance on Saturday, taking a 5-2 victory to close out the weekend.
The weekend started with some exciting news off the ice before the two game series even began. Head Coach Chris Timmons received a call on his way to Indiana, PA on Friday afternoon that his wife went into labor. Timmons returned home to be with his wife for the weekend, and, on Saturday afternoon, they welcomed their daughter, Mackenna, to the world. Assistant Coach Jordan Alhart took over head coach responsibilities in Pennsylvania.
Last season's point leader and captain Sam Hutchinson struck first on Friday night, scoring a goal on the game's first shift. But when senior forward Anthony Larkin received a tripping penalty, the Crimson Hawks’s Hunter Fairmen tied the game with a power play goal. ‘Cuse defenseman Ryan Thomas put the Orange back on top, scoring his third of the season. With less than five minutes remaining in the first, forward Spencer Johnson helped the Crimson Hawks end the period 2-2. After tension arose nearing the end of the first, the Crimson Hawks received a five-minute major, letting the Orange find their way back to the lead.
In the second, forward Jack Alecia seized the opportunity to put Syracuse back in the lead at 3-2. Riding this momentum, Hutchinson scored his second goal of the night on the extended five minute power play. The Crimson Hawks responded with a goal from defenseman Shawn Donovan, narrowing the gap to 4-3 with 11 minutes left in the period. Senior Richard Wild then equalized for the Crimson Hawks, bringing the score to 4-4 by the end of the second period.
The Crimson Hawks entered the third with a one-man advantage with forward Jack Wren serving a minor penalty. Taking the lead for the first time, forward Matthew Loza scored the goal for the Hawks. After going back and forth throughout the whole game, freshman Cam Gaffney tied it, sending the game into overtime.
As the Orange and Crimson Hawks entered overtime, both teams were able to keep it scoreless, bringing the game to a shootout.
As the Crimson Hawks entered center ice, Trent Lunden was able to strike first with a goal against Orange goaltender AJ Finta. Syracuse hoped to respond but faltered against Indiana's goalie, Conner Halpert. In the shootout, IUP scored again, putting Syracuse on the edge. Freshman Cam Gaffney responded to keep Syracuse’s hopes alive, but Indiana sealed the game with one final goal, clinching the shootout and taking the win in game one.
Syracuse came back the next day to S&T Bank Arena in hopes of getting a win and was successful in doing so.
Stepping in the net for the first time this weekend, Chris Spano stood strong throughout the first period, not letting the Hawks find the back of the net. Senior forward Anthony Larkin got the Orange going, scoring his second goal of the season eight minutes into the game. Larkin wasn’t done there, adding a goal just 16 seconds later giving the Orange an early 2-0 lead.
“It was the consistent play of my line and linemates, [Max Gargurevich] and [Tanner Cole].” Anthony Larkin said. ”We have really found some great chemistry together and we feed off of each other. Luckily I got some puck luck and found two grade-A chances on the doorstep and managed to bury them. It’s always nice seeing the puck go in the net.”
Assistant Coach Jordan Alhart, who served as head coach for the two-game series at IUP, was impressed by the play of the team’s fourth line.
“I thought that our 4th line of Cole, Larkin and Gargurevich stepped up and had a great weekend for us," Alhart said. “They’ve bought into playing a simple, relentless game and it was good to see their line fill up the scoresheet on Saturday.”
Jack Alecia, who leads Syracuse in goals this season, added to his total netting his 12th of the season to give the Orange a 3-0 at the end of the first period.
Coming off the energy he had the night before, Thomas opened the second with a one-timer goal. Responding to the goal, forward Richard Wild got the Hawks on the board off a rebound. IUP’s Trent Lunden also got his second goal of the weekend to bring the Crimson Hawks within two, making the score 4-2 after two periods.
The third period was a physical one for both teams. Eight penalties were handed out in total. Jake Brown and Jack Wren both got one for roughing back-to-back sending the Hawks on the power play. Syracuse was able to kill both penalties and received a power play of their own after sophomore Spencer Johnson was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalties didn’t stop there for the Hawks. Two more were handed out, one for kneeing and another for slashing. Syracuse benefitted from this and scored a power play goal, another from Thomas. This helped the Orange secure their first road victory of the season beating the Hawks by a score of 5-2.
“I thought Saturday was much more of a consistent effort,” Alhart said. “It seems like every time we got a lead on Friday night we would take our foot off the pedal and get away from what was working and let them back in the game. Saturday was much closer to a 60-minute effort and the results showed.”
“This group is so tight and we’re so close off the ice that to be able to score and see your teammates so happy and excited for you just means so much and really makes it that much more special,” Larkin said.
Syracuse sets out on the road yet again next weekend, facing John Carroll University at 8:10 p.m. on Friday and at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. All home games are held at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Syracuse University’s campus and are free for students and the general public. Home games are also streamed live on the SU Hockey Network.
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