2nd-period momentum shift dooms SU in 4-1 loss to RIT
Syracuse struggled on both the power play and faceoffs in the second period Saturday, leading to its 4-1 loss to RIT. Eli Schwartz | Contributing Photographer
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In multiple of Syracuse’s five wins this season, its calling card has been strong second-period play.
Against Stonehill on Oct. 3, SU scored two of its three goals in the second frame en route to a 3-2 victory. The following day, against the Skyhawks again, the Orange’s four second-period goals, all within nine minutes, headlined their eight-goal onslaught.
That trend continued in Syracuse’s 5-2 win over RIT on Friday. After Jordan Blouin’s power-play goal put SU up 1-0 at the end of the first period, its offense exploded in the second. Backed by power-play goals from Rachel Walsh and Nea Tervonen, the Orange exploded for three second-period scores, which the Tigers couldn’t recover from.
With SU and RIT knotted at one after the first period on Saturday, would Syracuse deliver another strong second-period performance or fall flat?
It fell flat. Syracuse (5-5, 3-1 Atlantic Hockey America) dropped its first conference game of 2025, falling 4-1 to RIT (5-5, 2-2 AHA) behind a disastrous second period. The Tigers outshot the Orange 31-11 in the second frame, as Tilli Keranen’s tally proved to be a difference maker they couldn’t respond to.
“In the second period we couldn’t really get going and back to our game plan,” SU associate head coach Heather Farrell said. “I thought our first period was our best period.”
Syracuse came out firing in the first period with crisp puck movement, an aggressive attack and strong defense. After Jackson Kinsler tapped in a goal following a Maya D’Arcy missed slapshot, all momentum seemed to be shifting SU’s way.
That was short-lived.
Thirty seconds into its first power play of the contest and late in the first period, RIT’s Linda Rulle rifled one into the net and out of Ava Drabyk’s reach to tie the game. Before the second period even started, the Tigers began to match the Orange’s intensity.
SU outshot RIT 23-13 in the period. It recorded 14 shots on goal to the Tigers’ eight. But it wouldn’t matter once the second frame began.
RIT’s offensive aggression was evident early in the second period. Just under a minute in, the Tigers’ attack burst down the ice, crashing into the net, which then glided into the corner. The possession didn’t amount to a goal, but it was a preview of the domination to come.
“We had to play in our (defensive zone) for most of the second period, which really affected our shot production,” Farrell said.
In addition to being heavily outshot, Syracuse struggled mightily on faceoffs in the second. On an RIT power play, SU lost a faceoff, which led to another Tigers breakaway. Addy Alvarez peppered Drabyk with shots but couldn’t find the back of the net.
A major reason for Syracuse’s second-period success on Friday was taking advantage of its power plays. With two power-play goals in 48 seconds, SU broke the game open.
The Orange couldn’t do the same on Saturday. Even with two solid opportunities early in the second period, Syracuse’s attack stagnated at the worst possible time.
As a result, RIT’s offense broke the tie. Back at even strength, Keranen’s goal gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. Drabyk held her ground for as long as she could, but RIT’s swarming pressure around the net was too much to overcome.
A disciplined first period turned into a sloppy second. From careless turnovers to errant shots, SU failed to find its footing after RIT evened the score late in the first.
Whenever SU looked to be turning a corner, it lost a faceoff. The Tigers routinely turned their faceoff victories into sustained, clean possessions that caught Syracuse’s defense off guard. The dominance put SU in a precarious position. Especially against tougher competition, the Orange have had immense difficulty coming back when trailing this season.
Down 2-0 to then-No. 6 Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 25 after two periods, Syracuse took its foot off the gas and fell 4-0. Trailing 4-0 to then-No. 7 Quinnipiac on Oct. 11, SU mustered just one goal.
Syracuse’s offense picked up tempo at points during the third period Saturday and nearly tied the game on a few occasions but couldn’t, as its second-period miscues set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Kolbee Ashe and Alvarez’s third-period tallies may’ve officially sealed the Tigers win, but Keranen’s second-period snipe flipped the game on its head, giving the Orange more questions than answers as conference play ramps up.
“We had chances to try and come back, but could just never really get going,” Farrell said.
