Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Throughout much of its 2024-25 campaign, Syracuse has struggled on the road — both in conference and nonconference play. While the Orange had won more games this season entering Saturday (11) than in their past two seasons, their performances away from home haven’t done them any favors.

Defeating Robert Morris 4-1 on Friday marked only SU’s third win of the season in enemy territory, bringing its record as the visiting team up to 3-11 overall. With teams like Penn State and Mercyhurst ahead of them in the standings holding a combined home record of 22-6-1, the ugly statistic could prove costly come playoff time.

But Syracuse (12-20-0, 10-8-0 Atlantic Hockey America) again looked comfortable on the road against Robert Morris (8-21-3, 2-14-2 AHA), soundly taking care of business against the Colonials, 5-1, for its fifth straight win. SU received contributions from 10 different players on the scoresheet en route to completing their first season series sweep of the Colonials in program history. The victory also cemented the Orange as the No. 3 seed in the AHA playoffs.

On the heels of one of the most physical, penalty-filled first periods of the season for both sides Friday, the Colonials and Orange showed discipline during the opening 20 minutes. After the teams had combined for 13 penalties the day prior, neither earned a power play chance in the opening period.

Still, without its power play unit to give it a lift, SU drew first blood just 1:17 into play. Walking across the blue line with the puck, Stella Costabile released a quick wrist shot toward the stick of Nea Tervonen in hopes of a tip-in. Tervonen angled her blade as the puck came toward her and deflected it just enough to fool RMU goalie Lucy Phillips.

The tally marked the fifth time this season the Orange have grabbed a 1-0 lead within the first two minutes.

Tervonen’s marker also built upon her personal-best scoring streak, which has been vital for the Orange in their push to earn home ice in the first round of the AHA postseason. The goal marked Tervonen’s sixth point in her last four games and fourth against the Colonials this season.

Following her ejection from the contest late in the first period Friday, Syracuse called on backup goalie Bella Gould to rise to the occasion for the next 40 minutes. Despite it being a year since her last Division I game, she excelled between the pipes when SU needed her most by stopping all 17 pucks that came her way.

But for the remainder of the first period after it opened the scoring, Syracuse was certainly glad to have its No. 1 option back in net in game two against RMU. While their offense sputtered, the Orange and Allie Kelley were bombarded with chances from all angles by the Colonials for the majority of the first period.

After surrendering the first goal, Robert Morris responded by outshooting its opponent 12-2 over the next 16 minutes. The Colonials were finally rewarded with the tying goal with 2:11 left in the first period when Catriona Crarer’s blistering shot from inside the slot beat Kelley glove side.

Thanks to Kelley’s strong return to the crease, the Orange escaped the first period tied at one apiece for the third time in four games against the Colonials. But despite looking lost in the first, SU’s attack backed their goaltender’s stellar performance by finding a new gear in the second period.

Just 1:28 into play, Phillips scanned for an outlet pass behind her net but misplayed the puck. Moving in on the forecheck, Costabile stripped the RMU netminder of the puck and wrapped it around the net and into the wide-open goal. Of Costabile’s 10 points this season as a freshman, three have come against the Colonials alone.

As the nation’s top shot-blocking team, Robert Morris is no stranger to getting in front of pucks for their goaltender. In the second period, the Orange put that ability to the test with an overwhelming 34 shot attempts. Due to the sacrificial blocks by RMU’s Shayne Desjardins, Allyson Hebert, Mya Kearns and others, only half of them found their way on target.

The Colonials’ shot-blocking prowess on defense was evident in the second period, but Syracuse’s Heidi Knoll found the chink in its armor. On the breakaway, she snuck the puck five-hole past Phillips to put RMU in an all-too-familiar 3-1 hole late in the frame, which held up until the second intermission.

In the final period, the Orange and Colonials exchanged offensive chances at both ends of the rink, but SU’s strength in the faceoff dot made the difference. Guided by its faceoff ace Tatum White’s four draw wins, SU ballooned its lead to three midway through the period with a Bryn Saarela goal. The tally marked her seventh against RMU in 2024-25.

With the clock ticking past four minutes left in regulation, Robert Morris pulled Phillips in a last-ditch effort to mount some form of a comeback. Despite a brief timeout by RMU to strategize, SU’s Charli Kettyle quickly cashed in on the empty net, as the Orange handed the Colonials their sixth straight loss.

Published on February 8, 2025 at 7:27 pm

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu