Catamount Comeback: Vermont tops Syracuse in a Wild Overtime Affair at Tennity

Brittany Zuback netted the overtime winner

Story and Photos by Cody Love

SYRACUSE, N.Y -After one period, it looked like the Syracuse Orange would run the visiting Vermont Catamounts right out of the Tennity Ice Pavilion.

Instead it was Vermont that pulled out the win in the end, erasing a first intermission 3-0 deficit and replacing it with a 6-5 overtime victory Friday night.

Dayna Colang was the game's top offensive performer, scoring a hat trick for the Catamounts.

Vermont was outshot 11-4 in the first period, falling behind just four minutes in on a Stephanie Grossi goal.

Alysha Burriss found Grossi wide open in front of the net, and she whipped it past freshman and usual backup goaltender Molly Depew.

Two more were added to the Orange's score in the final two minutes, with a sloppy Vermont own-goal being credited to Jessica Sibley.

Melissa Piacentini rounded out the period's scoring when she picked up a rebound in front on the power play.

However, the Catamounts came out in the second looking like a completely different team.

"I'm sure they had a talking to after (the first)," Syracuse Head Coach Paul Flanagan said. "They had a rejuvenated mentality when they came out, so I give them credit.  The coaches did a good job."

Vermont also made a change in goal for the second period, bringing in first-stringer, Madison Litchfield.

Danya Colang got the Catamounts back in it about five minutes into the period.

Dayna Colang's hat trick was an essential part of Vermont's victory

Playing the point on the power play, the center ripped a slap shot that went straight into the back of the net untouched.

Six minutes later, Colang brought Vermont to within one, picking up a loose puck next to the crease and beating goaltender Jenn Gilligan.

With less than two minutes remaining in the second, the Catamounts got their equalizer.

Colang rushed towards the net in support of puck carrier Amanda Pelkey on an odd-man rush.

Pelkey, a US National Team Member, decided to take the shot herself and slapped it by Gilligan.

Jessica Sibley was credited with two of Syracuse's goals

Just over a minute into the third period, the Orange took the lead back on the power play, with Jessica Sibley redirecting a Kaillie Goodnough shot past Litchfield for her second goal of the game.

About five minutes later, Catamount left winger Brittany Zuback got a breakaway and used a quality deke to fool Gilligan for another Vermont equalizer.

Colang then completed her hat trick to give the Catamounts their first lead, picking up a shot from Amanda Pelkey right in front of the net and deflecting it in.

That lead was short-lived however, as Orange defenseman Nicole Renault set up on the half-wall and slapped in a power play goal to make the score 5-5, where it remained at the end of regulation.

Just under two minutes into overtime, the puck went skidding into the Syracuse zone, with defenseman Akanae Hosoyamada in pursuit.

Zuback caught up to her and the two fell to the ice as the puck went behind the net.

Zuback returned to her feet and wrapped the puck around and past Gilligan for the game-winner, completing the comeback.

These two teams go at it again on Saturday at Tennity Ice Pavilion, as Syracuse looks to salvage the split at home.  Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00pm.


Around the CHA

Although Syracuse is playing a non-conference opponent this weekend, two other CHA teams were in action against each other.

Penn State traveled to Rochester to face RIT and was unable to find any offense as the Tigers won 3-0.

RIT has a chance to tie Syracuse and Lindenwood for second place in the conference with a win tomorrow in the rematch.