Syracuse ice hockey shuts out Union College in dominant 5-0 win

The Syracuse women’s ice hockey team dominated the Union College Dutchwomen in a 5-0 win on Tuesday night.

The Orange entered the game searching for their first victory, after having lost or drawn in the season’s first four games.

The first period was full of sloppy play, as both sides searched for a feel on offense while working to create scoring opportunities. Defensively, senior goaltender Arielle DeSmet saved seven shots, while graduate student defender Jessica DiGirolamo pitched in with several blocked shots.

Syracuse had opportunities to put points on the board and out-shot the Dutchwomen 16-7 by the end of the first period, but could not convert.

During the second period, the Orange ramped the energy up. From pressuring the Dutchwomen once they received the puck, to forcing them into traps where Union players looked like deer in headlights, SU kept the game one-sided on both ends from there on out.

Nearly five minutes into the period, freshman forward Madison Primeau scored her first goal of the season to put SU ahead 1-0, off the assist from graduate forward Victoria Klimek.

The Orange created momentum off Primeau’s goal and increased the aggressiveness on both sides of the ice.

Nearly 14 minutes into the period, junior forward Brynn Koocher scored her first goal on the season to put the Orange ahead 2-0, with the assist credited to junior defender Mae Batherson.

Both teams traded multiple shot attempts and offensive zone faceoffs towards the end of the period. But SU looked like a completely different team compared to their first-period performance.

Syracuse continued its domination in the third period by controlling the pace and outcome of the game; as if it was just another day at the office.

At least four minutes into the period, senior forward Lauren Bellefontaine dazzled around a group of Union College defenders and found freshman forward Sarah Marchand on a breakaway. Marchand noticed the 2-on-1 scoring situation, then passed it back to Bellefontaine for the goal, completing a marvelous give n’ go to increase the score total of 3-0.

“We had a 2-on-1, I passed it to (Marchand) and she made a beautiful pass to me, she’s really good at saucing it over the sticks,” Bellefontaine said. “This time I didn’t blackout so I knew what I was actually doing. I just picked up the goalie and it went in.”

Halfway through the period, the Orange started to play “keep-away” and ran time off the clock while limiting shot opportunities. Resulting in only one shot attempt in the last 10 minutes of the game for the Dutchwomen.

Nearly 15 minutes into the period, redshirt junior forward Marielle McHale added to the score total making it 4-0, with senior defender Shelby Calof assisting on the play.

As if the Orange weren’t already on fire, a volcano of cheers erupted as sophomore forward Tatum White scored her second goal of the season. The strike came on a power-play, 90 seconds after the previous goal, assisted by sophomore defender Hannah Johnson.

In the end, five different SU players scored a goal, and SU’s DeSmet was ambidextrous saving 17 shots with her glove and blocker. The Orange provided exceptional teamwork as their hard work came into fruition tonight.

“It’s really nice when you can distribute the scoring throughout the lineup,” Syracuse head coach Paul Flanagan said. “It is good when we can start spreading out and hopefully that continues.”

The Orange will play the Colgate Raiders on the road this Thursday at 6 p.m.