To support student journalism and the content you love, become a member of The Daily Orange today.

Clarkson barraged Syracuse with four shots on net in the span of 30 seconds in the first period. After collecting the rebound of the fourth shot, Rayla Clemons took off up the left seam.

Clemons beat her defender to make it a one-on-one with the Golden Knights’ Haley Winn. Winn skated backwards to cut off potential shooting lanes, as Clemons got caught up in her own spin move attempt and got the puck poked away, killing another opportunity for the Orange.

While Syracuse (1-5, 0-0 College Hockey America) scored twice in its 5-2 loss to No. 11 Clarkson (5-1-1, 0-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey), it got just three shots off in the first period, its lowest shot total in a single period this season. The five players on Syracuse who have scored thus far in 2022 combined for eight shots against the Golden Knights. The Orange were stifled on even strength play for the fourth straight game. Meanwhile, Clarkson fired off 40 shots to SU’s 25. But Syracuse has made a habit of starting slow this season, scoring just two goals in the first period in the Orange’s first six games.

“I think we are definitely going to have to figure out our consistency,” Syracuse head coach Britni Smith said. “We’ve been having slow starts overall, so it’s just finding a way to come out like we did in the third period right from the drop.”

Clemons, who came into the match with SU’s second-most shots, finished the match with zero shots on the night. Clemons repeatedly tried to push the puck up the ice as soon as she gained possession, without waiting for her teammates in enemy territory.

Clemons relied on her quick breakaway ability to a fault on Thursday night. In the second period, shortly after a scuffle between the two teams caused a double power play, Clemons had another breakaway turnover, this time in the middle of the ice. After intercepting a pass at the blue line, Clemons took off full speed down the ice.

However, she quickly lost the puck next to Stephanie Markowski. The puck was just out of reach for Clemons, who lost the puck between the penalty circles. Anne Cherkowski came out of the corner scrum with the puck, and SU went back on the defense once again.

Both of SU’s goals came on power plays, continuing its strong special teams performance from last week.

Sarah Thompson scored on a rebound from point-blank range in the third period, with Lauren Bellefontaine and Sarah Marchand picking up assists. Thompson took advantage of the confusion caused by Bellefontaine’s missed shot from point-blank range. But Clarkson goalie Michelle Pasiechnyk looked around for the puck, and Thompson took that split-second to tip the puck into the net.

But the last five goals for SU have come during the power play, showcasing its inability to create offense in an even strength setting. Bellefontaine, who moved into 10th place on the Syracuse all-time points list on Thursday, only sent one shot on the night. Meanwhile, Tatum White, who is SU’s leading shot-taker, scored once on two shots.

“We had quite a slow start,” Bellefontaine said. “But I think after the first period we really came together and talked about what we needed to do to get the energy up and to hold each other accountable.”

To start the third period with the Orange down 3-1, Bellefontaine received a set-up pass from Sarah Thompson in the right penalty circle. But instead of flicking the puck toward Clarkson’s disoriented goalkeeper, Bellefontaine attempted a slapshot, which resulted in a block from Olivia Hanson cutting across the shot. SU went back on defense, but were able to at least trade possessions in the final period.

“We started picking out battles, we started playing a bit more greedy, which is our game,” Smith said. “I thought that really pushed us through to the third, where I thought we outplayed them.”

Published on October 13, 2022 at 10:40 pm

Contact Wyatt: wbmiller@syr.edu