Up 2-0 on Lindenwood with less than five minutes to go in the game, Syracuse’s Danielle Leslie took a two-minute roughing penalty, the Orange’s first penalty of the game.

Jessica Sibley won a board battle and blocked a shot leading to a clear. Melissa Piacentini rode a Lindenwood player to the blue line, causing her to float a shot wide. Then Piacentini swiped the miss out of the zone as she was falling down to kill off the penalty and Lindenwood’s hopes of coming back in the game.

“I thought we responded well [to Lindenwood’s energy],” SU coach Paul Flanagan said. “Maybe taking that penalty late was not so bad as we had to tighten up. It was our only kill of the day so everyone had to respond. You have to go after them.”

Syracuse (18-13-3, 14-4-2 College Hockey America) defeated Lindenwood (8-22-4, 5-11-4 CHA), 2-0, on senior day at the War Memorial Arena in downtown Syracuse on Saturday. The Orange finished the season second in the CHA and will play its first game in the CHA Tournament on Friday, Feb. 26. Syracuse’s defense kept Lindenwood at arm’s length throughout the game.

Nicole Ferrara scored SU’s first goal on a rebound at 9:39 of the first period and Jessica Sibley scored the second 12:19 into the second period on a breakaway. The game was less sloppy than Friday’s 6-1 win against Lindenwood, and the Orange responded to Flanagan, who preached for more “deliberate” play.

Usually the starting goalie, Jenn Gilligan missed a second straight game with an undisclosed injury, but Flanagan said she should be ready for the CHA tournament. Freshman Maddi Welch started in her place. She made crucial saves at the right time and recorded her first career shutout.

Renault and Martyniuk were able to cut off lanes and limit the possession and thinking time of Lindenwood as the Lady Lions only managed 17 shots and rarely got clean looks on net.

“We always try to do a good of getting ahead of the play and reading plays”, Renault said. “I think whenever you can read a play and react to it before they do it’s always a positive.”

Martyniuk broke up a breakaway with a nifty defensive effort to avoid a penalty and instead of a goal going five-hole, the puck lost steam and bounced right into the pads of Welch.

While SU’s offense only produced two goals against Lindenwood, its defense was able to slow the Lady Lions and help out a freshman goalie getting her first start.

“We decided to stay back and stay with them as they [Lindenwood] were finding the weak side forward”, said Martyniuk. “If you have the opportunity to jump up and get that puck, you should, but make sure you are staying on the defensive side.”

Published on February 20, 2016 at 8:35 pm

Contact Jake: jafalk@syr.edu