Syracuse beat RIT 4-2 Friday for its first conference win of the season. Bryn Saarela had a pair of goals in the third period to help the team come back and beat the Tigers.
Saarela had six shots on goal in the game, including four breakaways. She said she was able to stick to her game despite missing on her first two opportunities.
“Having a little confidence, the first two didn’t go my way, so just making sure the next two definitely went in,” Saarela said.
Saarela’s first came after she batted an RIT pass out of midair and skated in to tie the game in the third period.
Her second goal was short handed on a blocked shot that led to a Tatum White area pass for another Saarela breakaway goal.
Saarela said the team was good on both ends of the puck.
“I think our defense was huge, blocking shots, especially towards the end of the game, came up really big, even on the penalty kill defensively,” Saarela said.
Coach Smith said blocking shots starts with the players and the mentality they bring to the rink everyday.
“That’s the culture they’ve built, we know we have to be a gritty hockey team and it starts with them,” Smith said. “I think it starts with the way we practice and the way we come and push each other everyday. It’s nothing that we’re doing or saying as coaches, it’s completely the players.”
The team blocked 24 shots in front of Allie Kelley. Kelley made 40 saves of her own, to add to the 24 blocked shots.
The Tigers out shot Syracuse 42-26, but the Orange took the advantage in special teams. The team killed all four of RIT’s power plays, and scored a goal short handed and on their own power play.
Charli Kettyle scored the lone power play goal in the game to open the scoring for the Orange. She buried a one-timer off a feed from Jackson Kinsler to make it 2-1 in the second period.
The Orange got a game-sealing goal from Rylee McLeod to put the team up 4-2, which would be the final.
Syracuse’s win moved them to 3-9 on the year, as the team ended its nine game losing streak. The Orange will travel to Rochester Saturday in the back half of a home and home series against RIT. That game is at 3 p.m.