Syracuse Women’s Hockey takes down RIT in AHA action due to late-game heroics

Syracuse Forward #26 Peyton Armstrong recorded her 6th goal of the season in the 2nd period against RIT
Syracuse Forward #26 Peyton Armstrong recorded her 6th goal of the season in the 2nd period against RIT – Photo Courtesy: Griffin Uribe Brown | The Daily Orange

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Women’s Hockey team defeated RIT 3-2 in the final regular-season home game of the year.  

RIT came into this evening sitting at the 4th seed in the AHA with 29 points, sitting one point ahead of the No. 5 seeded Orange.  

The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are both secured by Penn State and Mercyhurst. There are seven teams in the AHA playoffs, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds host playoff games.  

No. 3-seeded Lindenwood took on No. 4 nationally ranked Penn State, losing 6-3, which means Syracuse not only jumped RIT but also the Lions, who were sitting at the No. 3 seed in the AHA with 30 points.   

“We have to take care of our business,” said associate head coach Heather Farrell, “We can’t expect anyone else to help us at this point, so we need to get points tomorrow and get some points from Mercy.”

Syracuse found success quickly in this one, 7:24 into the first period; Jackson Kinsler on the doorstep put home the rebound off the captain Nea Tervonen’s chance to put the Orange up 1-0.   

Shortly after, at the 11:08 mark, Jaidan Fahrny ripped one right past the Syracuse netminder Ava Drabyk, on the Power Play, notching this one up at one a piece.  

Syracuse Goaltender #31 Ava Drabyk made 32 saves on 34 shots faced in the 3-2 win over RIT
Syracuse Goaltender #31 Ava Drabyk made 32 saves on 34 shots faced in the 3-2 win over RIT – Photo Courtesy: Griffin Uribe Brown | The Daily Orange

Moving forward to the later stages of the 2nd period, Emma Gnade and Peyton Armstrong found themselves up the rush on a 2-on-1 where Gnade found Armstrong, who ripped it right by the RIT netminder Brenna McNamara.   

“Army (Peyton Armstrong) is just so quick with her hands, so she was able to roof that puck pretty quickly and hit the water bottle it was a pretty nice goal,” said associate head coach Heather Farrell.

Not even two minutes later, in the late stages of the 2nd period, Cassandra Barnes deflected one in off a point shot from Tilli Keranen to tie it up at two apiece.   

Jumping to the final period of play just over the mid-way point, Ireland Stein ripped one right past Drabyk, giving RIT a 3-2 lead, so that’s what they thought until coach Farrell challenged the play. The officials decided that RIT was the official turning the goal over, keeping this one tied.   

With time running out and this one potentially about to go to overtime, Jessica Cheung delivered her first goal of the season to break the deficit at the 18:38 mark.   

“I haven’t gotten a goal so far this year so, but I’m glad that I was able to get that, and I think it’s really going to boost my confidence,” said Cheung.

The Orange look to keep their pace in the AHA standings on the road tomorrow against RIT, before they hit the road again against Mercyhurst for the team’s final regular-season series of the year.