Julie Knerr waited in front of the net as Megan Skelly sent a shot toward the New Hampshire goaltender. After the puck deflected off the goaltender, the freshman forward put the rebound in the back of the net for her first career goal.

‘It was a bouncy puck, and I felt like it was never going to go in. When it did, Skelly tackled me, like my helmet almost flew off,’ Knerr said. ‘My first goal, I just couldn’t believe it.’

Casey Hirsch, a fellow freshman, felt a similar rush when she matched Knerr’s accomplishment to put the Orange up for good early in the third period.

SU head coach Paul Flanagan said Hirsch and Knerr played with great energy all night and provided a spark that seemed to be missing in Syracuse’s previous game against Northeastern. Their first career goals led Syracuse (2-2) to victory and helped them relax while boosting their confidence. The freshmen forwards are starting to understand their roles in the Syracuse system, and it showed as they capitalized in key moments in a 2-1 win over the Wildcats last Saturday.

Hirsch and Knerr will be crucial to SU’s success on offense moving forward. They provided a first glimpse of their potential with their impressive play last weekend. After losing to Northeastern last Friday, Flanagan decided to experiment with his line groupings to force his team to play hard for all three periods. Hirsch and Knerr had played sparingly in the team’s first three games, but got a chance to play as part of the line changes.

And they seized the opportunity.

‘We shook up the lines a bit on Friday night, giving people chances and seeing what they can do,’ Flanagan said. ‘Both goals were very opportunistic, a result of being in the right place at the right time. I think you’ll see all these freshmen start scoring goals and contributing a little more offensively.’

But what Flanagan admires most about his freshmen duo is its ability to create competition on the ice. He stressed that they are both confident in making plays and add a level of depth to the lineup. Hirsch and Knerr also bring a stronger sense of character in the locker room, Flanagan said.

Their confidence is built during practice. Both Hirsch and Knerr understand the importance of repetition in ice hockey, especially when transitioning to the next level.

Flanagan said the veteran players have helped the freshmen adjust to the change in competition from high school to college. The four seniors have provided guidance to the freshmen in balancing their classes and arriving to practices and meetings on time.

‘The older players have done a real good job being role models for them and giving them expectations both on and off the ice,’ Flanagan said. ‘So I give kudos to the upperclassmen for leading the way.’

Syracuse goaltender Kallie Billadeau said some incoming freshmen struggle to fit in on the team, but said Hirsch and Knerr have adapted well.

‘Coming from high school, the game was much slower-paced,’ Hirsch said. ‘Practicing with these girls at this level has made a big difference and definitely helped me with my speed.’

Hirsch and Knerr have adjusted to the faster game at the college level by attending morning sessions for the players held by the SU coaching staff. It is a chance for them to receive further instructional help. They practice one on one with members of the coaching staff before the rest of the team arrives for practice at 10 a.m.

The sessions are not mandatory, but both freshmen have taken advantage of the extra attention. Flanagan said Knerr is specifically working on face-offs and shooting.

The freshman duo’s eagerness to improve has created a higher level of intensity for SU early in the season. And after leading the team to a win Saturday, Hirsch and Knerr left an impression on their teammates and coaches.

As the season goes on, Flanagan and the Orange will be relying on them to provide a level of depth and continue to make plays on the ice.

‘For that second game, we had to change up the lines and the freshmen really stepped up,’ Billadeau said. ‘They’re the reason we won that game.’

awmirmin@syr.edu

Published on October 11, 2011 at 12:00 pm