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Alexandria Weiss and Tatum White both had not scored a goal on the power-play unit through Syracuse’s first 11 games of the season.

Yet, against Robert Morris on Friday night, both scored a power-play goal and each assisted on each others’.

Despite Weiss and White’s efforts on the power play, it wasn’t enough for the Orange in the series opener. Robert Morris (5-6-0, 2-1-0 College Hockey America) built a 3-1 lead and never gave it up, defeating Syracuse 4-2 (3-8-1, 0-3-0 CHA).

Just over five minutes in, RMU opened the scoring due to a Syracuse mistake. Following a Colonials’ clearance during a line change for both teams, Kambel Beacom collected the puck behind the net and skated out from the right side. As Beacom circled around the net, she was cut off by two RMU skaters.

Calli Arnold pushed her back towards the middle of the ice while Shailynn Snow stole the puck.. Alone in front of the net, Snow beat Syracuse goalie Allie Kelley through the five-hole to take a 1-0 lead.

The mistake highlighted a poor start to the game, but Syracuse’s power-play created its first opportunity to tie the game.

SU had six power-plays overall in the game. The Orange capitalized on two of them. Two minutes after taking a 1-0 lead, former SU player, Madison Primeau, committed a slashing penalty for the Colonials.

Syracuse took advantage. Just 17 seconds into the power-play, the puck swung just in front of the blue line to Weiss. Weiss took a slapshot that deflected off the left post into the back of RMU goalie Emma Gorski to tie the game at 1-1.

During its power play chances, SU created quality chances. The first goal of the night was built off of a series of great passes and setup from the unit.

Weiss collected the puck at the top of the zone but decided to pass rather than take a low-percentage shot. She swung the puck to Rachel Teslak across the blue line. Teslak, the team’s goal leader, had an opportunity to shoot, but moved the puck to Kate Holmes. With Weiss to her right and possessing a strong left-handed shot, Holmes took a simple tap to set up a one-timer chance for Weiss. Weiss took the slapshot, put it on net and ultimately scored the goal.

RMU took the lead back a minute later. Syracuse turned the puck over in the neutral zone, setting up a two-on-one opportunity which the Colonials would put home. After an eventful first period, Robert Morris held a 2-1 lead.

The Colonials doubled their lead 15 minutes into the second period. Alaina Giampietro wristed home a shot over Kelley’s glove to make it a two-score game.

Trailing 3-1 in the third period, Syracuse’s power-play unit once again went to work. On its fifth power play of the game SU again scored early. Weiss collected the puck at the top of the offensive zone with an RMU defender cutting off her passing option to the right. Weiss cut back to her forehand on the left side and charged towards the net.

She fired a left handed wrist shot through traffic and eventually made its way off the left pad of Gorski. White cleaned up the rebound and shot the puck with her backhand into the net, cutting the deficit to one goal. White and Weiss had connected for the second time and kept the team in the game.

Syracuse would have another power-play opportunity 90 seconds later. However, the unit led by Weiss and White were unable to tie the game.

RMU closed out the game in the final period before putting the nail in the coffin with an empty-net goal to take a 4-2 lead with just 44 seconds to go.

When the teams were at even strength, RMU scored three goals to Syracuse’s zero. SU was only able to score on its power-play chances and struggled outside of the man advantage opportunities.

Following the loss to the Colonials, SU remains winless through three CHA games. Two loses to Penn State last weekend and the loss to RMU Friday mean the Orange are the only winless team in the league so far.

Published on November 3, 2023 at 11:42 pm

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky