SU allows 4 3rd-period goals in 5-2 defeat to Penn State

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On a Penn State power play with just over a minute remaining, Leah Stecker received a pass from Lyndie Lobdell and fired a shot well left of the goal. The puck clattered off the boards behind the net and ricocheted behind Syracuse goalie Allie Kelley. Maddy Christian took advantage of the favorable bounce, skating into the crease and tapping the puck into the net. The Nittany Lions took a 5-2 lead in the dying moments.

It was the story of the third period for the Orange – even shots off target were turning into goals. Syracuse (2-9-0, 0-2-0 Atlantic Hockey America) allowed four goals in the third period, falling 5-2 to No. 12 Penn State (9-3-0, 2-0-0 AHA) Friday evening. The loss is the ninth consecutive game SU has dropped, and its five goals allowed were a season-high.

While the Orange couldn’t keep it close down the stretch, they made the game interesting through the first two periods.

The first period saw most of its action through the power play. Both teams had two opportunities up a skater, but the Nittany Lions got the best of them. Jocelyn Fiala was sent to the penalty box for a slashing penalty two minutes after SU killed off Penn State’s first power play. PSU took advantage of the second chance. Stecker fired a slapshot into the slot from just inside the Syracuse zone. Christian quickly redirected the puck into the top corner, giving Kelley no chance to react.

The Orange failed to convert on their first power play chance but earned another in the final seconds of the period. However, the Nittany Lions outshot SU 13-5 in the first period.

At the start of the second period, Syracuse matched Penn State’s effort on the power play. An interference call on McKenna Walsh with 40 seconds remaining in the first period carried over into the second period, and the Orange made the most of it. Bryn Saarela received the puck at the top of the right circle and whipped a pass into the slot for Charli Kettyle, who placed it past Lauren Barbro to tie the game at 1-1.

SU got another big opportunity six minutes into the second, as Penn State captain Tessa Janecke was given a five-minute game misconduct penalty for boarding. While Syracuse couldn’t find the net over the span, the call ignited another period filled with special teams chances for both teams. Both the Orange and the Nittany Lions went to the box three times in the second period. SU fired 11 shots in the period to Penn State’s 13, but Kettyle’s goal 22 seconds into the period was the only score for either side. They entered the third period knotted at one.

Just a minute and a half into the third, the Nittany Lions began to pull away. A giveaway in Syracuse’s defensive zone allowed Abby Stonehouse to weave past a defender and blast a shot past Kelley.

Seven minutes later, Penn State poured it on. Stecker ripped a shot that was saved by Kelley, but she followed the rebound and scored on the backhand. Thirty seconds later, the Nittany Lions added another. Stella Retrum found herself past the SU defense, and Grace Outwater fed her the puck. Bearing down on goal in a one-on-one with Kelley, Retrum slotted the puck into the right side of the net to put Penn State up 4-1.

The Orange showed a sign of life two minutes later, as a forecheck from Heidi Knoll allowed Mik Todd to cruise to the top of the left circle and bury a snapshot past Barbro. While Syracuse gained some short-lasted momentum, Todd’s goal would be SU’s second and final shot of the period. Christian’s second goal in the final moments killed any last-minute hopes for the Orange, solidifying the 5-2 final.

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