MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Syracuse's Rylee McLeod scored the game-winning goal in the second period to lift the Orange to a 2-1 victory over the Colonials. With the loss, RMU falls to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
FIRST PERIOD
Both teams' penalty-kill units were tested early, with each side successfully killing off an opposing power play. However, a second penalty proved costly for RMU, as Stella Costabile scored 18 seconds into the advantage to give Syracuse an early lead.
The Colonials earned another power-play opportunity and recorded three shots but were unable to capitalize. RMU eventually found the equalizer in the 17th minute, as
Jessica MacKinnon netted her fifth goal of the season.
Following her own faceoff win, MacKinnon immediately drove toward the net.
Lucy Thiessen fired a shot from the point that was redirected by
Alaina Giampietro, sending the puck directly to MacKinnon, who finished the play to even the score at 1-1.
SECOND PERIOD
RMU returned to the power play midway through the second period but could not find the go-ahead goal. Just eight seconds after Syracuse killed off the penalty, McLeod stole the puck in the offensive zone and wristed a shot into the net to put the Orange back in front, 2-1.
Despite holding a 20-10 advantage in faceoffs through two periods, the Colonials trailed 22-12 in shots on goal after 40 minutes of play.
THIRD PERIOD
The Colonials received one final power-play opportunity in the third period, generating six shot attempts but failing to find the equalizer.
With two minutes remaining, RMU called a timeout and pulled its goaltender in favor of an extra attacker. However, Syracuse held on through the final horn to secure a 2-1 victory in the series opener.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Syracuse held a 28-20 advantage in shots on goal, with MacKinnon leading the Colonials with four shots. She also won 16 of 22 faceoffs (72.7%), while MacKinnon and
Mya Kearns each recorded a team-high four blocked shots.
RMU won 28 of 44 faceoffs overall (63.6%). MacKinnon, Giampietro and
Greta Brezenski, along with defenseman
Kaitlyn Schooley, each finished with a plus-one rating. In goal,
Maggie Hatch turned aside 26 shots for the Colonials.
COLONIAL FIRST
Sophomore defenseman
Lucy Thiessen recorded her first point as a Colonial, earning an assist on MacKinnon's first-period goal. The Alexandria, Va., native now has one goal and four assists in 26 career games.
UP NEXT
RMU will host Syracuse tomorrow for the series finale at Clearview Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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