Sacred Heart
Syracuse
Syracuse Tops Sacred Heart 5-1
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Feb. 13, 2009
The Syracuse Orange defeated the Pioneer women's ice hockey team 5-1 Friday night at the Wonderland of Ice. Gina Arnone (Bridgewater, NJ) scored her 22nd goal of the season and Amanda Nagel (Greenwood, MN) made 34 saves in the loss. Nagel is now the single season save leader in SHU history totaling 837 in 2008-09.
Syracuse (6-15-3) came out strong and dominated most of the first period but did not score the game's opening goal until the finals seconds of the frame. Seven minutes into the contest Rebecca Gordon beat Nagel but her shot rang off the goal post to keep the score at 0-0. The Pioneers had their best scoring chance of the period as Whitney Dziama (Walpole, MA) found herself alone in the slot. However, Dziama could not put good wood on the shot and it was turned away by Orange goaltender Lucy Schoedel. Syracuse edged out to a 1-0 lead with 26 seconds left in the first period as Nikki Leone tipped in a power play goal for the Orange.
Sacred Heart (12-14-2) fell behind 2-0 early in the second period after Janelle Malcolm slid a rebound through the five-hole of Nagel. The Pioneers responded three minutes later as Arnone put a centering pass from Nicole Palazzo (Rocky Hill, CT) into the back of the net. The Orange had an answer for the SHU tally two minutes later as Lisa Mullan was credited with her fourth marker of the season. Syracuse extended its lead to 4-1 as Rebecca Gordon slid the puck just past the end line to earn her third goal of the year. Shortly after, Nagel flashed her blocker high turning away Julie Rising to keep the Pioneers down only three. Arnone had a chance to cut into the Orange lead after a pass from Jackie Galvin (Canton, MA) put her on a break away. Schoedel was able to kick away Arnone's shot and the Pioneers trailed 4-1 going into the second intermission.
The third period featured the most balanced action of the game as each team fired nine shots on goal. However, Mullan would score the frame's only goal for Syracuse, her second of the day, to bring the final tally to 5-1. The Orange outshot the Pioneers 38-19 en route to their third straight win over Sacred Heart. These two teams will be back in action tomorrow in the series finale in Bridgeport, CT. Game time is set for 2:00 pm.
