By Chloe Martinez
Long Island, N.Y. -- Oh captain, our captain! Sam Hutchison delivered a standout performance this weekend, leading Syracuse to two thrilling overtime victories. SU, fresh off a sweep of Oswego, capped off its final road game of the season with another dominant performance against Stony Brook.
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he wins proved critical, extending Syracuse's winning streak to five games. Saturday’s game ended with a 3-2 score, while Sunday’s contest concluded with a 4-3 victory.
“Seeing yourselves win games makes you feel like winners, and reminds us that we always have a chance to win,” Hutchison said. “So when we’re down in games, there’s no quit ever, and we showed that this weekend.”
The last time these two teams faced off, they split the series right before Thanksgiving Break. This time, the Orange came into the game with confidence and momentum, ready to challenge the Seawolves again.
Junior Jack Alecia wasted no time showcasing his speed and skill, scoring his 17th goal of the season to put Syracuse on the board early.
Both teams exchanged pressure and scoring chances throughout the first period, but Finta was solid in goal, helping Syracuse maintain a 1-0 advantage at the intermission.
Early in the second period, Stony Brook forward Alex Scimeca found the backdoor and tied the game. The two teams then went back and forth, with multiple penalties handed to both sides, but neither team capitalized on the power play opportunities. The score remained 1-1 at the end of the second period.
With time winding down in the third, Hutchison stepped up, giving Syracuse the lead once again. However, with less than five minutes remaining, the Seawolves struck back and tied the game once more. Despite goaltender A.J. Finta’s continued strong saves, Syracuse struggled to finish their scoring opportunities, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Hutchison found the back of the net, securing a 3-2 win for Syracuse.
“I think looking back on our last series with Stony Brook we had a very rough start, but we turned it around and started to play a better system of hockey,” junior Connor Chesner said.
“We have really changed our style of play from the first semester and I like how selfless and bought in our team is right now.”
The Orange returned to Long Island for the final road game of the season, eager to face the Seawolves once more. Stony Brook struck first, with a goal midway through the first period putting them up 1-0. Despite a few power-play opportunities, Syracuse couldn’t capitalize, and it entered the second period trailing by a goal.
However, the fifth-year captain wasted no time bringing the energy back. Hutchison scored early in the second period to tie the game 1-1. The Seawolves quickly regained the lead, and with both teams continuing to exchange penalties, the game became a back-and-forth affair.
Stony Brook’s power play proved successful again when they took advantage of their opportunity, and they scored to extend their lead to 3-1 by the end of the second period.
Syracuse entered the third period determined to fight back, and Hutchison allowed his team to do so. Five minutes into the period, he scored again, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and giving Syracuse a renewed sense of hope.
With both teams battling hard for the win, Syracuse found the equalizer with just three minutes left in regulation. Sean Caddo’s goal tied the game at 3-3, sending the contest into another overtime period.
In the final frame, both teams were hungry for the win. With Hutchison leading the charge alongside Connor Chesner and senior Brock Alvers, Syracuse found the game-winning goal when Chesner scored, clinching a 4-3 victory. The win allowed Syracuse to sweep the weekend series and close out their final road games of the season on a high note.
“... we never believe we are out of a game.” Chesner said, “We have had a couple of lapses this semester, but overall I love what we have done these past two weekends. We are playing for the guys in the locker room rather than ourselves.”
The Orange take on Rhode Island for their last regular season series. Friday, February 21st, Syracuse will celebrate their seniors for Senior Day in the last game before the postseason.
Following this weekend, Syracuse will play the loser of the Stony Brook and Drexel series in the first round of the ESCHL Playoffs on Saturday, February 22nd at 8:30 p.m. The program has not competed in the postseason since the 2020 season.
All home games are held at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Syracuse University’s campus and are free for students and the general public. Home games are also streamed live on the SU Hockey Network.
Contact me:
X: @Chloemartinez28
Email: cmarti97@syr.edu
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