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In the 2023-24 season, Syracuse mustered just seven wins in 34 games and scored fewer goals than any other team in College Hockey America. Already riddled with scoring woes, the Orange lost four of their top five leading goal scorers in the offseason. Despite bringing in several new players via the transfer portal, it seemed unclear where the Orange would be getting their offensive production.

Yet, in its season opener against Stonehill, Syracuse put the questions to rest.

The Orange scored four goals from four different players and were efficient on the power play as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Stonehill Friday evening. SU scored twice in the opening seven minutes, including the team’s earliest goal in a season opener in 16 years.

“We have a lot of new faces in the locker room, and one of the biggest things for us is that we really didn’t want that to be the narrative for the season,” SU head coach Britni Smith said postgame. “We wanted to come out in our first game and show that we were already a united front.”

SU didn’t wait long to find the back of the net. Less than a minute into the game, the Orange were threatening toward goal. A swift pass from Maya D’Arcy near the right circle found the stick of Heidi Knoll, who fired a shot on goal. Stonehill goalie Alexsa Caron redirected the puck toward the waiting stick of SU forward Jackson Kinsler, who tucked a shot inside the far post to put the Orange up 1-0.

The goal — a minute and eight seconds in — was the fastest goal Syracuse has scored to start a season since the program’s first-ever game, when Megan Shelly scored nine seconds into a 4-3 loss to Colgate in October 2008.

“(The goal) really helped us get our energy going right away,” Kinsler said. “It helped us get an early lead, and then we could really settle into our systems. I think we all got that in the first five minutes.”

On the board early, Syracuse didn’t take its foot off the gas. Despite the early offensive start, the Orange lacked consistency in several close contests last season.

Six minutes after scoring its first goal, Syracuse was hungry for another on the power play. It found it from captain Tatum White. SU’s returning leader in both goals in assists, White won a faceoff on Stonehill’s side of the ice, received the puck from Jessica Cheung and let a shot fly past Caron into the top right corner of the net.

“I think our group … we’ve gelled really quickly,” White said. “We’ve had a lot of time to work on (the power play). We’ve been doing really well in practice. We just have a lot of confidence in moving the puck quickly.”

The Orange continued to attack in the second period. SU peppered 19 total shots on goal, a number of them falling into Caron’s glove in fast-break opportunities. As the period came to a close, it was the power play yet again that allowed Syracuse to break through.

Following several shots toward the net with four minutes to play in the second, the puck settled for Cheung in striking distance. The freshman ripped a snapshot from the center of the ice into the net, SU’s third of the night and second from the power play.

“Special teams is important,” Smith said. “So to be able to have two big power play goals and be perfect on our penalty killing game… it’s something that gives your team momentum.”

Syracuse continued to ride the momentum into the final period. Again, the Orange tallied double-digit shots on goal with 13. With just under two minutes to play, Syracuse benefited on a fast break. D’Arcy broke behind the defense on the right side and cruised into a one-versus-one opportunity with Caron. D’Arcy swiftly slotted the puck into the net and extended the Syracuse lead to four.

The win, SU’s first in a home opener since 2017, showcased that the Orange can find the net, and can do so from several different sticks. Despite losing significant contributors in the attack, Syracuse relied on new faces and old leaders alike to deliver, scoring four goals in a season opener for the first time in over a decade.

The Orange were particularly efficient on the power play, scoring twice in three chances. Scoring just 19 goals from 103 power-play chances last season, SU will look to keep increasing its efficiency while up a player.

“There are a lot of great things right now, but a lot of room for improvement as well,” Smith said. “It’s nice to see that success, and we’re excited to keep building.”

Published on October 5, 2024 at 12:18 am

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