Allie LaCombe embraces the big moment. She seizes the moment when the time comes to attack opposing defenses in the closing seconds, propelling her team to crucial victories.

The junior from Eden Prairie, Minn., has three game-winning goals for Syracuse this season. But LaCombe isn’t satisfied with taking the credit for all of her late-game success.

“I give a lot of credit to my teammates,” she said. “Some of my goals have been a result of rebounds that they made and I shot or simply being in the right position.

“I’m not the most skilled or fastest player on the ice. But I like to work hard and think that’s where the goals come from.”

LaCombe will get a chance to continue her scoring prowess when the Orange plays Lindenwood on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

Her late-game heroics aren’t new. It’s been a position she is accustomed to dating back to her time at Eden Prairie High School. Eden Prairie was the gold standard for women’s ice hockey, as they play in the highest division in Class Double-A. In LaCombe’s first season, Eden Prairie finished 29-1-1 and won the state championship.

“We were one of the biggest schools in the state,” LaCombe said. “My freshman year we had 12 recruited seniors. It was a dream team. You’ll never find that again.”

She fought hard to gain playing time in her first season, and it proved to pay dividends for the state powerhouse later that year. The run to a state title was in jeopardy, as Minnetonka High School gave Eden Prairie a legitimate scare in the semifinals.

But it was not one of the 12 seniors who saved their dominant season from coming to an abrupt end. Instead it was the freshman that executed the most important shot of their season.

High school coach Tim Morris remembered that signature moment like it was yesterday.

“She scored in the state semi-final against Minnetonka High School in the third period to tie the game at 1-1,” he said. “We won the game 2-1 with a goal by former (University of Minnesota) Gopher Kelly Seeler on the power play. Allie’s goal was the spark that got the team going.”

When asked about Allie’s best trait, there was no hesitation from her former coach.

“Her ability to win face-offs,” Morris said. “She won a ton for us.”

LaCombe has never intended to be a passive player on the ice, which Syracuse head coach Paul Flanagan views as an impressive trait.

“I think she’s one of our few players that will drive and take the puck to the net and look to shoot first,” Flanagan said. “A lot of girls in women’s hockey look to pass first. Allie kind of separates herself as having the gun-slinger mentality.”

Flanagan attested to LaCombe’s passion for the sport that she has played since she was 4 years old. Her love for the game goes beyond the grind of playing and practicing on the ice every week.

Her focus is for Syracuse to sustain momentum heading into the second half of the season.

“As coach says, we are kind of a roller coaster team,” she said. “I think if we can smooth it out and finish the first half of the season strong, we’ll be good going into the second half of the year.

“I think it’s a great program and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Published on December 5, 2013 at 2:18 am