By Isabella Apple
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Orange (3-7-1) took down the Stony Brook Seawolves (7-6-0) 5-3 at Tennity Ice Pavilion on Friday, November 15. Alternate Captain Matt Jacobs’ late second-period goal would stand as the game-winner.
The Orange came onto the ice firing and were able to do something that hasn’t been easy for them this season - score first. Captain Peter-Owen Hayward broke the ice just 16 seconds into the first frame.
Syracuse entered the offensive zone on the dump and chase just minutes after Hayward had scored when forward Connor Preston found himself all alone to the right of Seawolves goalie Robbie Lockwood. Preston snuck the puck between Lockwood and the post to give the Orange a 2-0 lead early.
Junior Connor Preston knows how important getting on the board early is for this offense.
“Scoring first is absolutely crucial for us. However scoring first can also be the kiss of death because you have to make sure you’re backing it up the next shift, which is what we did tonight. It’s important that as a team we come back with a big shift after a goal and keep momentum in our favor,” the forward said.
The Orange continued to fly around the ice throughout the opening frame and with just under five minutes remaining Hayward found a streaking Matt Jacobs who fired a shot off the pads of Stony Brook’s netminder. Lockwood was able to handle Jacobs’ shot but was unable to recover in time to stop rookie forward Ryan Dailey from scoring his first collegiate goal off the rebound.
After giving up three goals on just ten shots Stony Brook pulled starting netminder Robbie Lockwood in favor of backup Richard Shipman.
It felt as though Syracuse was about to run away with this one with a 3-0 lead after playing just fifteen minutes, but the Seawolves’ relentless drive to the net finally paid off when Stony Brook got themselves on the board with 2:57 remaining in the first period.
With less than two minutes remaining, Preston and Luke Caddo were sent to the box with less than two minutes remaining, leaving the Orange down 5-on-3. Stony Brook would not be denied on the two-man advantage and was able to pull within one goal with just thirty-four seconds left in the first.
Syracuse left the ice with just a 3-2 lead after starting hot and leading 3-0 just four minutes earlier.
Syracuse and Stony Brook continued to trade opportunities at either end of the ice for the majority of the second period. The back and forth defensive battle kept either team from getting many pucks on net or real quality scoring chances.
With just over a minute remaining, the Orange were able to sustain offensive zone time and finally cracked the Seawolves’ new goaltender. Center Matt Jacobs fired a laser of a shot from his knee after Hayward was able to find the alternate captain all alone at the left faceoff dot.
The Orange entered the second intermission with a 4-2 lead but would be forced to kill almost all of a two-minute minor after junior Lucas Prestamo took a tripping penalty as time expired in the middle frame.
Stony Brook began the third period with a fresh sheet of ice and 1:53 on the powerplay to work with. Just over a minute into the final period, the Seawolves drew within a goal, capitalizing on the late penalty to bring Stony Brook back within one.
Forward Matt Jacobs was able to get behind two Stony Brook defenders as Connor Preston found the alternate captain on the breakaway giving Syracuse a 5-3 lead with under ten minutes remaining.
As goalie Eric Parker made save after save during the remaining ten minutes of play, the Orange were able to hold off the Seawolves’ late surge and win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Captain Peter-Owen Hayward knows that Saturday’s Veterans Appreciation game is about much more than just hockey.
“It’s very meaningful to a lot of guys on our team who have had family members serve and is a good reminder that there are things a lot bigger than hockey. At the end of the day, the sacrifices of servicemen and women make it possible for us to come to the rink and play the game we love, and that won’t be lost on anyone tomorrow” said the captain.
Join the Orange for their Salute to Service game against the Stony Brook Seawolves as they look to continue their winning ways on home ice. The puck drops on Saturday, November 16th, at 2:00 PM from the Tennity Ice Pavillion. Fans can catch the action live at https://www.suhockey.com/about-26.
Contact me:
By email: iengelha@syr.edu
On Twitter: @isabella_skye23