Syracuse Ties Fourth Game on Last Second Goal

Story and Photo by Kali Fisher

Syracuse, N.Y.- The Syracuse Orange is still looking for its second win of the season after tying a fourth consecutive game Sunday night against the UConn Huskies at Tennity Ice Pavilion. But it took a last-second goal this time for SU to avoid a loss.

"I think you reflect more on, there's good ties and bad ties," Coach Paul Flanagan said. "Today the way it unfolded maybe it was a good tie."

He said there's still that sense of frustration at not being able to pull out that win.

In the first period neither team succeeded in putting one in the goal with Syracuse having 11 shots on net compared to UConn's six.

Orange scores first but Huskies then get two

The Orange and Huskies tried turning up the intensity in the second with a total of three goals and seven penalties between them.

Freshman forward Emily Costales got her first career goal and Syracuse's first goal of the game with just 52 seconds into the second period and was assisted by junior defenseman Nicole Renault and freshman forward Stephanie Grossi.

Flanagan said Costales was excited about it and it was nice her dad was in town from Vancouver.

The Huskies responded to Costales's goal with two of their own.

The Huskies' captain, senior forward Sarah MacDonnell scored the team's first halfway through the second period; her fourth goal of the season.

Senior forward Emily Snodgrass scored UConn's second goal on a powerplay with only three minutes left in the second period.

She was assisted by senior forward Rebecca Fleming and junior defenseman Caitlin Hewes.

This is also Snodgrass's fourth goal of the season.

Scrambling for the tie

The highlight of the night for Syracuse came with just one second left in the third period from sophomore forward Jessica Sibley and freshman forward Alysha Burriss to tie up the game and send it into overtime.

"It was just scrambling then the puck popped out in the slot," Burriss said. "I knew I didn't have very much time so I threw it on net and Sibs put on a nice tip."

She said she's happier coming out of this tying game than the other three.

Sibley said the team came out in the third and showed some character and although it's not a loss she's not satisfied with a tie.

The Orange had five shots on goal during overtime and The Huskies had zero.

Goalie Jenn Gilligan who had been out since Tuesday started for The Orange.

Flanagan said she was solid and was happy with her performance.

Tough Clarkson next

Despite being only three weeks into the season and having four straight ties Flanagan said the Orange has to look at the positives and accentuate those positives.

Syracuse's focus is now on Friday's away game against last year's national champions, Clarkson.

The Orange will have just four days to get ready to compete against The Golden Knights.

Friday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m.in Potsdam.