By Owen Sienko
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Orange (1-0-1) will play their first in-conference games of the season this weekend against their ESCHL rivals, the New York University Violets (1-0-1). Syracuse has a winning regular season record of 4-1-3 against NYU all-time.
The first game of the doubleheader will begin on Friday, October 11, at 9:00 p.m. Fans can catch the action live from New York City at https://www.youtube.com/user/NYUHockey/videos.
Syracuse gathered three points against the Kent State Golden Flashes last weekend. Over those two games, veterans Peter Owen Hayward, Connor Preston, and Ford Hatchett scored three points each, and senior goaltender Eric Parker was solid in net with a .906 save percentage. Freshman defenseman Caleb Decker earned his first collegiate point with an assist in Friday’s overtime loss.
The Violets earned three points of their own against William Paterson University last weekend. Senior forward Frank Horowitz ended the doubleheader with three goals and an assist, while freshman defenseman Reagan Wortz burst onto the collegiate scene with two goals and two assists. Senior goaltender Patrick Cavanaugh was serviceable in net, posting an .891 save percentage.
Syracuse and NYU last met in last year’s ESCHL quarterfinal, when the Orange battled back from a 4-0 deficit in the first period to win 8-7 in double overtime. Senior captain
Peter Owen Hayward led Syracuse’s scoring efforts, netting three goals in the second period and later adding a third-period assist. Senior Brandon Ritchey was an offensive leader for NYU with a goal and two assists. Patrick Cavanaugh was overwhelmed by 49 shots, missing eight of them for a .837 save percentage.
To leave the “Big Apple” with four points, goalie Eric Parker says the team needs to work on their play in the defensive zone.
“We had a couple defensive zone breakdowns that lead to goals this weekend. We need to work on that this week in practice and we will be in good shape,” Parker said after Saturday’s 3-1 win against Kent State.
Still, Peter Owen Hayward says the team is ready to take on the Violets.
“It’s always a huge weekend when we play NYU and this is no different. We don’t like them and they don’t like us so it’s going to be a real battle,” he said.
Freshmen New York City natives Vincent Barone and Jordan Edelstein say they’re especially eager to return to their hometown.
“I have not played at a home rink in a very long time and I have been thinking about this game since the season started. My adrenaline is going to be absolutely crazy,” Barone said ahead of Friday’s road trip.
Don’t forget to tune in to https://www.youtube.com/user/NYUHockey/videos Friday at 9:00 p.m. to watch Syracuse’s first ESCHL action of the season.
Contact me:
By email: oasienko@syr.edu
On Twitter: @OsienkO