Down one goal with just under two minutes left in the game, Syracuse head coach Paul Flanagan pulled goaltender Ady Cohen for the extra attacker. It had worked two minutes prior when Anonda Hoppner cut the lead to just one, but this time, the Orange were already up a player.

Time ticked off the clock and the Orange took two shots on net in the waning seconds. Both of them were blocked before they reached the goalie, leaving Syracuse with a third straight loss.

“Probably for us it’s a lesson to learn,” said Flanagan. “We gotta be better prepared mentally.” 

It’s the second week in a row that the Orange have lost a close game to a ranked team. Syracuse (0-3) never held a lead against No. 7 Boston College (4-0, 3-0 Hockey East) Saturday afternoon at Tennity Ice Pavilion. Syracuse trailed 4-1 halfway through the third, and despite a late rally, SU was unable to beat BC, losing 4-3. Syracuse had plenty of shots, but even when they weren’t blocked, Boston College goalie Maddy McArthur was there to stop them. 

Down three goals, defender Jessica DiGirolamo played a big part in that late push. DiGirolamo joined the rush in the hopes of generating some offense and was rewarded after a nice passing play with fellow defensemen Kristen Siermachesky. DiGirolamo then picked up the assist on a shot that was saved by McArthur but fell to Hoppner, who buried it in the net.  

DiGirolamo, who finished the night with a goal and two assists, actually played with McArthur back in their junior hockey days. While she was happy to play against McArthur, it was not the outcome she was looking for. 

“She’s a great goalie,” said DiGirolamo. “You just gotta keep getting her moving because if she sees a shot she’s going to save it for sure.”

The other Syracuse player that managed to beat McArthur was forward Emma Polaski. She put Syracuse on the board in the second period with a power play goal from in front of the net. 

Syracuse was getting shut out in the second period until Polaski scored her goal. SU had 19 shots to BC’s four in the second period, but the Orange still tied the period 1-1. It was a game of missed opportunities as Syracuse fell behind early and was chasing the Eagles for the rest of the game.

“We came out kinda flat and gave them too much credit,” said Polaski. “We really have to know that we deserve to be out here and take it to them the entire 60 minutes.” 

After going down a goal and being outshot in the first period, Flanagan knew there needed to be a change, he said. The Orange were stuck in a speed and skill game against a smaller, faster, and highly-skilled Eagles team. However in the second period, SU used its size and strength advantage to block shots and forced Boston College into turning the puck over.

Down a goal after dominating the second period, SU looked like it had a chance to shift momentum. Instead, McArthur came up with game-altering saves. On the other end, Boston College took advantage of a high stick penalty and scored on the ensuing power play. Another even strength goal three minutes later had Syracuse reeling. 

“I give our kids credit because that just diffuses you and any energy you’ve got,” said Flanagan. “We did everything we could, but unfortunately it was reminiscent of the first Clarkson game here.”

Syracuse challenged a top team in Boston College, but McArthur ensured the upset wouldn’t happen. She ended the game with 33 saves, including 20 in the second period, and stopped any chance SU had of picking up the win.

“Their goalie made more saves than our goalie,” said Flanagan. “I hate to say it, but you change the goalies and it’s probably a different ballgame.”

Published on October 5, 2019 at 7:48 pm

Contact Gaurav: gshetty@syr.edu