Orange Split Weekend Series With Rams

By Kevin Dorr

Syracuse Goal Celebration, Photo Credit: Gavin Liddell

Kingston, R.I. -- The Syracuse Orange (4-16-0) picked up two points on their trip to the Ocean State this past weekend. The Orange won their first conference game, beating the Rhode Island Rams (13-10-1) 6-3 on Friday night. The Rams bounced back with a 4-2 victory in Saturday’s game.

Sophomore Sam Hutchinson led the way in the first game, posting a hat-trick and adding an assist. Down 1-0, the Orange scored four unanswered goals, starting with Hutchinson finishing a 3-on-1 opportunity to even the score at 1. Freshman Brock Alvers put the Orange ahead on the powerplay, as he came off the wall and roofed a shot past URI goalie Curtis Briggs.

Syracuse struck 16 seconds into the second frame. Hutchinson found junior captain Mackenzie Murphy at the point, and Murphy lasered a perfectly placed shot to add to the lead. Hutchinson was not done, as he tipped a Tim Kalinowski shot through the five-hole of Briggs.

URI added two powerplay goals, one midway through the second period and the other 51 seconds into the third period, to bring the score to 4-3. Hutchinson completed his hattrick after Briggs mishandled the puck in his crease. This costly mistake by Briggs put the Orange up by two goals and swung momentum back in favor of the boys in Orange.

The Orange killed a crucial URI powerplay in the third period to maintain their two-goal lead and finished with a strong defensive effort. Collin Morrow added an empty-net goal to finish off the game.

In Saturday’s game, the Orange fell behind 2-0 midway through the second period. Freshman Max Gargurevich cut the Rams’ lead in half with 4:15 left in the second.

Gargurevich, who just finished serving a penalty, came out of the box and was found by Captain Tim Kalinowski. Gargurevich finished his breakaway chance, as he slipped the puck five-hole on the Rhode Island goaltender.

The Rams retook their two-goal lead 69 seconds into the third period. The Orange fought to bring the deficit back to one. Captain Lucas Prestamo scored on the powerplay with under three minutes on the board.

After Orange goaltender Chris Spano was pulled for an extra attacker, the Rams iced the game with an “empty netter”. The Orange fell in a hard-fought game 4-2.

Although Saturday’s result was not what the team was hoping for, Friday’s game proved that the Orange are on their journey to future successes.

“It is important in terms of what we want to build over the next few years,” said Hutchinson regarding Friday’s win. “We needed to learn how to win and close out a tight game, and now we feel better about what we are capable of”.

The Orange went 2 for 4 on the powerplay in Friday’s game, which is a clear indicator of the importance of special teams. The Orange capitalized on the powerplay in Saturday’s game, when Prestamo brought the Orange within one goal late in the game.

“Being able to consistently break the puck into their zone will provide us with more opportunities,” said Alvers, one of the powerplay goal scorers. “We have guys who can shoot and move the puck really well”.

The Orange will look to build upon their success when they travel to Philadelphia for a matchup with Drexel this weekend. The Orange defeated Drexel earlier this season however Drexel was forced to forfeit both matches due to an off-the ice team situation.

Contact me:

By email: kcdorr@syr.edu