Mercyhurst defeats Syracuse ice hockey in game one of the CHA Semifinals
Mercyhurst defeats Syracuse ice hockey in game one of CHA Semifinals
Mercyhurst defeated Syracuse women’s ice hockey on Friday afternoon in a high-scoring battle.
Mercyhurst got the scoring underway in the first period after forward Liliane Perreault put the puck past Syracuse goaltender Arielle DeSmet two minutes into the game. With six minutes left in the period, the Lakers added to their tally thanks to a goal by sophomore forward Vanessa Upton. The period ended with Mercyhurst up by a score of 2-0.
As if the first period didn’t have enough action, the second proved to be a pure scoring contest. After a cross-checking penalty was called on Syracuse’s Madison Primeau, Mercyhurst received a power play with five minutes gone by in the second.
Although her team was shorthanded, defender Charlotte Hallet notched her first career goal off a pass from Lauren Bellefontaine to make the game 3-1. It was also an essential milestone for Bellefontaine, as the dish put her just two assists away from tying the Syracuse career record of 72 assists.
#22 @charlie4hockey’s first of her career in 🍊! pic.twitter.com/TEsjKNlrM5
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) February 24, 2023
However, there was still time left in the power play, and Mercyhurst promptly responded by regaining their three-goal lead after Upton scored her second goal of the night. Less than a minute later, Mercyhurst’s Mary Sweetapple added to her team’s total as she sent the puck past DeSmet to give her team a commanding 5-1 lead.
Syracuse wasn’t done yet, though. At the halfway point of the second period, Bellefontaine scored off of a feed from her teammate Mae Batherson, making it a 5-2 game. With four minutes remaining in the period, Batherson notched another assist after freshman Rhea Hicks tapped in her shot.
Unfortunately for Syracuse, the team could not muster any more goals after an action-packed second period, so the third and final period ended with Mercyhurst winning 5-3.
The loss sets up a win-or-go-home scenario for the Orange, who must defeat the Lakers Saturday to keep the team’s championship hopes alive.
is an undeclared student in the 2026 class and a contributor for The NewsHouse.
