Orange Dominate Misericordia 9–2 in Annual Pink the Rink Game

By Brian Piendel and Amir Mehrtash

Photo Credit: Maria Kaffes / @mariakaffesimages

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Orange (3-6-2) put together their most complete performance of the season on Friday night, cruising to a dominant 9-2 victory over Misericordia University (7-5-0) during the annual Pink the Rink game at Tennity Ice Pavilion.  

Playing in support of breast cancer awareness and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Orange set the tone early with three first-period goals and never looked back. Syracuse’s top line led the charge and propelled the team to a high-scoring night on home ice.  

Defensively, captain Connor Chesner anchored the blue line while making a major impact on both ends, helping Syracuse finish a perfect 3 for 3 on the powerplay. Freshman goaltender Cash Lawrence delivered an impressive performance on the way to earning his first career collegiate win, stopping 20 of 22 shots in net. Syracuse controlled all three periods from start to finish and had all four lines contribute on the scoresheet.

Syracuse sophomore forward Cameron Gaffney opened the scoring after deflecting home a Jack Alecia pass off of a set offensive zone faceoff play midway through the first period.  

“I’m playing with two very good players, so it makes my job a lot easier playing with players like 37 [Ben Brant] and 21 [Jack Alecia],” said Cameron Gaffney when asked about his first multipoint game of the season. 

The Orange struck again just over two minutes later. Sophomore forward Eli Pendergrass glided past an MU defender and then slid the puck across the net for a one-timer finish by junior forward Kade Cook at 11:30 in the first.  

Alecia added a tally of his own from a quickly released snapshot at 13:10 in the first. Gaffney and first-year forward Ben Brant added assists on the play. The Orange took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. 

Senior captain Connor Chesner wasted no time extending the lead in the second. The

Orange converted their first powerplay of the night from a one-timer slapshot from the point from the captain’s stick. Brant once again added an assist.  

Syracuse’s top-line continued to light up the scoreboard in the second. Brant added his lone scoring tally of the night by virtue of a wrist shot set up by Gaffney at 9:51.  

Chesner scored another powerplay goal at 17:36 on a quick one-timed shot set up by Alecia.

First-year forward Brayden Sainato scored his first collegiate goal on a shot buried into the bottom corner at 19:01. Fellow first-year forward Chris Fanning notched his first career point earning the primary assist.

Hamilton Nordwind and Henry Pendleton each added a goal in the third to secure the win for the Orange. Eli Pendergrass, Chris Fanning and Dan McCarthy also found their way onto the scoresheet with assists in the final frame.

Syracuse will look to carry its momentum into conference play as the team travels to Oswego to take on the Lakers on Thursday, October 30, with puck drop set for 8:15 p.m. 

All home games are played at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Syracuse’s campus and are free for students and the general public. Home games are streamed live on the SU Hockey Network. Radio broadcasts are also available for all away games.