Tied at two against Robert Morris, Syracuse’s penalty ended, and a four-on-four turned into a power play. Lindsay Eastwood gathered the puck at center ice and Abby Moloughney joined her on the attack. 

Eastwood entered the zone and backhanded a pass to her winger. At the top of the slot Moloughney picked the puck up, stared down the goalie and rifled a shot into Colonials’ net. The goal stood as the game winner — Moloughney’s second of the game and 50th career point.

Last year, Moloughney led all SU freshmen in points and goals and finished second on the team with 22 points. As one of the fastest players on the ice, Moloughney’s speed helps her stay out of the box, lead SU’s breakout and maintain control of the puck. It has allowed her to lead the team in points in 2019-20 and has put her on pace for 100 career points. Only Melissa Piacentini and Stephanie Grossi have ever crossed the 100-point plateau in Syracuse school history. But Moloughney’s parents, teammates and coaches all believe she can be the third.

“She’s fast, she’s so fast I can’t keep up to her,” SU senior Savannah Rennie said.  “It’s easy to play with her.”

Moloughney’s speed developed through long nights on the family’s outdoor rink in Ottawa, beating her brothers to pucks, her father Mike said. During her youth, Moloughney played pickup games on the backyard rink with Mike, brothers Ronan and Brennan and her mother Kristen. They’d have many different lineup combinations, but Mike and Moloughney were usually on different teams. Moloughney’s team usually won, Kristen said.

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Beyond hockey season, Moloughney grew up a sprinter and soccer player. When Moloughney was six she began her career as a runner, and by the time she was in high school Moloughney, who ran the 100- and 200-meter races, beat her competitors at every meet, she said. But after a hamstring injury forced her out of running for a year and set her back from the competition, Moloughney “transferred all her energy into hockey.”

Moloughney’s speed carried her to play for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats. She thought she couldn’t make it and almost didn’t try out, former Nepean coach Bruce MacDonald said.  Moloughney made the team as a 15-year-old, playing against players three years older than her. When Moloughney started her second season she was the fastest player. By her third season, an alternate captain.

While penalties have plagued the Orange all season, Moloughney’s foot speed has allowed her to match opponents stride-for-stride and avoid stick infractions — keeping her out of the penalty box. She was called for slashing in the first game of the season against Clarkson, her only penalty of the regular season. While hooking, tripping, high-sticking and slashing penalties often occur when a player is lagging behind their opponent, Moloughney is often ahead of them.

“I think sometimes it’s a bit of a misnomer with an offensive player just to look at goals and assists because she’s a really good defensive player,” head coach Paul Flanagan said. “She’s a real sportsman, she stays out of the penalty box, so she’s a well-rounded player.”

In 2019-20, Moloughney has been nominated for College Hockey America player of the year, best defensive forward and the Individual Sportsmanship award. But Moloughney’s “biggest achievement,” she said, would be breaking the 100-point mark and immortalizing herself in the record book of Syracuse’s young program.

“Abby will do it, there’s no doubt she’ll probably leave there the leading scorer in Syracuse history,” MacDonald said. “I have no doubt in my mind she’s gonna get better and better every year.”

Published on March 3, 2020 at 11:12 pm

Contact Gaurav: gshetty@syr.edu