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In Syracuse’s first game of the season against Robert Morris on Dec. 6, 2024, it was coming off three straight losses while being outscored 14-3 in that span. The Orange had been pummeled by then-No. 5 Colgate 3-1 and 7-1 following a 4-1 defeat to Lindenwood.

And despite suffering appalling losses the last two weekends, Syracuse immediately got back on track, defeating RMU 4-1 on two straight days. The wins exemplified SU’s ability to hit the ground running as the new year began, head coach Britni Smith said after the first 4-1 win.

Since that series, the Colonials have been a team Syracuse has comfortably exploited, sweeping the season series and outscoring them 17-4 through four contests.

While SU’s Atlantic Hockey America Quarterfinal matchup against the Colonials looked favorable Saturday, it stayed tight. Still, No. 3 seed Syracuse (14-21-0, 11-9-0 AHA) prevailed over No. 6 seed Robert Morris (8-24-3, 2-16-2 AHA) 3-2 in double-overtime to keep its season going. Peyton Armstrong buried the game-winner to send the Orange to the semifinal round.

A constant in the Orange’s wins over the Colonials has been scoring early. Smith mentioned on Dec. 6 that scoring in the first period was a focus for SU, and it’s done it in every game against the Colonials since.

However, on Saturday, Syracuse got off to an unusually slow start against RMU, being held scoreless by the Colonials for the first time in an opening period all season. Stella Costabile had an open look on net in the first period, but she couldn’t handle a Jackson Kinsler feed, leading to one of SU’s numerous turnovers.

“Getting up early is where we can capitalize on them, and that’s something we’ve found success with this season,” Syracuse forward Tatum White said postgame. “They seem to be a team that lets off the gas a little bit when you capitalize early, so we didn’t do that today, and it showed the effect of it.”

As Syracuse began to show agitation, the Colonials forced shot after shot on the Orange’s backline. Following an Armstrong tripping penalty, RMU fired seven attempts on Allie Kelley’s net, but each was snagged.

Just 1:29 into the second period, Syracuse had tallied just one shot. Costabile’s first attempt was unsuccessful, but on the Orange’s next attempt, they capitalized.

Kinsler started wide open in the neutral zone. Following a feed from White, Kinsler found Heidi Knoll up ahead. Knoll, on RMU’s Lucy Phillips, slotted the puck directly into the upper-right corner of the net, giving SU a 1-0 lead early in the second period.

But Knoll’s goal didn’t slow the Colonials down. Calli Arnold had a breakaway with Kelley in front but missed high. Halfway through the period, they bombarded Kelley again, notching five tries in under one minute.

But each time an attack was served Kelley’s way, she batted it down. The goaltender finished with 40 saves on a .952 save percentage, constantly keeping Syracuse in front against the Colonials’ 42 shots, their most since Oct. 26, 2024 against St. Anselm (45).

“We’re really in shape; we weren’t getting tired,” Armstrong said of SU’s defense. “We were so excited and just wanted to go out there.”

The third period saw things Syracuse had rarely seen from RMU this season. Just over one minute in, Robert Morris got on the board. Mya Neugent bobbled the puck before wrapping it around to find Jersey Phillips. Jersey fired it past Kelley’s right shoulder, evening the score at one apiece.

Ten minutes later, the Colonials did it again. Morgan Giannone — RMU’s leading scorer — fired a straight wrister into the top left corner from the bottom of the left-wing circle, giving Robert Morris its first lead over the Orange this season.

“They fought hard, and they put us on our heels a number of times,” Smith said.

As Syracuse’s chances to advance in the inaugural AHA playoffs dwindled, Bryn Saarela — who notched seven points in December against RMU — presented the Colonials with some déjà vu.

The graduate student earned her fourth goal in her last five games with a scorcher past Lucy from the bottom of the right circle. The equalizer took the game to overtime, just SU’s fourth extra-period game of the season.

At the beginning of overtime, Armstrong had a chance to send everyone home with an early game-winner. The freshman stole the puck from Allyson Hebert before breaking toward the net. Just Lucy stood before her, but she sent the puck right into the goaltender’s chest.

The chance was missed, and after 19 more minutes of play, SU and RMU were headed into double overtime.

However, the second period didn’t last long. Unlike her attempt in the first overtime, Armstrong had another breakaway. This time, she capitalized. The forward swerved past Jersey before finding the back of the net. As she did so, she fell, unable to see the puck go in.

“(The puck) landed on my stick, and I honestly blacked out on it. I didn’t even know I scored until everyone came on the ice,” Armstrong said of her game-winner.

“She’s someone we’ve looked to for offense (all season). For her to find the back of the net as a freshman in a moment like that is pretty special,” Smith added.

Despite not playing a perfect 83 minutes, Syracuse got things done against a team it’s cruised past all season. Even though Saturday’s win was gutsy, it only strengthened the Orange in preparation for the AHA Semifinal.

“We’ve definitely put in the work, and we’ve built up to this moment, and we deserve to be moving on to the next round, so we’re not surprised,” White said.

Published on February 22, 2025 at 9:18 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_