Syracuse, NY—For the second time this season the Mercyhurst Women's Hockey team was able to complete a weekend sweep. Mercyhurst was able to beat Syracuse by a score of 2-1 securing their first sweep since they swept RIT on December 10th and 11th, 2020.
How it Happened
In the first period, both goaltenders were perfect shutting down each other's offensive pressure. Sophomore Ena Nystrøm started in her third straight game while appearing in her fifth straight game for the Lakers.
Syracuse goaltender Allison Small was back in the crease for the Orange after being pulled last night after the fourth Laker goal.
Both goalies were able to turn away all the shots they saw throughout the first two periods of the game.
Nystrøm was able to turn away 10 Orange shots in both of the opening two periods, while Small turned away seven Laker shots in the first and then another 16 in the second period.
Finally, at the 7:30 mark of the third period a skater was able to solve a netminder, however it was Nystrøm who cracked first as the Orange took the lead with just 12:30 remaining the game.
Just 42 seconds later Small cracked at Sara Boucher was able to tie the game at one. Boucher took the cross-ice pass from Megan Korzack and one-timed it past Small for her sixth goal of her rookie season. Emily Pinto was able to pick up her fourth assist of the season on the play.
With only a minute remaining in regulation both teams looked at the scoreboard and saw it was still knotted at one. Boucher knew this needed to be changed, Summer-Rae Dobson was able to control the puck behind the net, as the Syracuse defender checked her off the puck, Alexa Vasko was able to grab the puck and tried to stuff it in. On the rebound Boucher was in the right place at the right time as she was able to put it across the goal line with just a fourth of a second remaining on the game clock.
Battle on Special Teams
The Lakers were able to shut down the second ranked powerplay this weekend, the Lakers were 9-9 on the penalty kill this weekend. Mercyhurst was able to score their fourth powerplay goal of the season while they had 13 shots on the powerplay on six chances today.
Up Next
The Lakers will head to Moon Township to play the Colonials of Robert Morris for the fourth and final time this season. Mercyhurst will not play again after that until they host Lindenwood on February 18th, 19th, and 21st.
