Syracuse ice hockey thrashes Delaware 4-0, completes season sweep
Jackson Kinsler was one of Syracuse's four scorers as the Orange claimed their largest shutout win since Feb. 1, 2025. Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
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Delaware’s first season as a Division I program hasn’t been smooth sailing. Through the first half of the season, it only earned two wins, dispatching Holy Cross and Atlantic Hockey America foe Lindenwood. Ahead of Saturday, no team in the conference had scored as few goals (22) nor conceded as many (87) as the Blue Hens.
But that’s expected. UD only has three full-time coaches, alongside NHL alum Michel Larocque, who joined as a volunteer in August. It’s also the first time its 21-player roster — which includes a nation-high 17 freshmen — has meshed together.
Still, Delaware gave Syracuse — in its 18th year as a D-I program — a run for its money in the squads’ first three contests. In their first-ever matchup on Oct. 17, 2025, SU was 6.4 seconds from not even earning an AHA point after heading to overtime, but Celia Wiegand saved the day to earn Syracuse a 2-1 victory.
The following day at Fred Rust Arena, it took 51 minutes and 12 seconds for either team to light the lamp. Ultimately, it was the Orange’s Rylee McLeod who got on the board to squeak by 1-0.
On Friday, SU trailed the Blue Hens for the first time all season after Kaitlin Finnegan converted an early woman-up advantage. That lead held for 26 minutes until Jordan Blouin knotted things up. Stella Costabile and Peyton Armstrong followed her up with two power-play goals in the final frame to avenge the slight scare and win 3-1.
The Orange never had any apprehensions that history would repeat itself Saturday. Syracuse (10-11-3, 6-6-2 AHA) commanded Delaware (2-20, 1-13 AHA) from the get-go, earning a 4-0 win. SU split its scoring throughout the first two periods with four different scorers and sprayed 41 shots on Mattie Robitzer. On the other end, Orange goaltender Ava Drabyk stopped all 16 shots against a mute Blue Hens attack for her third career shutout.
McLeod’s day looked hapless from the start, cross-checking Finnegan just 56 seconds in. Syracuse showed aptitude on the penalty kill, as its early kill was one of four throughout the game. After allowing a tally on the Blue Hens’ lone attempt Friday and carrying an AHA-worst 75.9% mark ahead of the game, Saturday was a step in the right direction for struggling special teams.
Yet, once McLeod exited the penalty box, she sparked SU’s attack. Caressing the puck from the Orange’s end, she blazed past Suvina Heidt to create a one-on-one with Robitzer. McLeod finagled it backhand to give Syracuse an early lead just over three minutes in.
SU continued firing, with numerous offensive opportunities. The Orange were responsible for the game’s next four shots on goal, with an Emma Gnade attempt almost finding back iron just moments before a Rachel Walsh interference call.
The Blue Hens’ two shots on goal during the power play were their only two of the period. After killing the penalty, Jocelyn Fiala peppered Robitzer with back-to-back pellets, as SU seemingly kept the puck past UD’s blue line for the remainder of the first period.
With just under two minutes remaining in the frame, Makenna Williment cradled the puck from behind Delaware’s net. She found Sami Gendron at the back-right flank, who swiftly centered it, redirecting off Charlotte Hallett’s stick off the post and into the net.
Syracuse mirrored its early first-period intensity in the second. Costabile broke away within 20 seconds but couldn’t convert. Just over three and a half minutes later, she had a gaping hole to break through for another one-on-one chance with Robitzer. This time, she made a selfless pass to a gliding Jackson Kinsler, who beat the netminder backhand to give the Orange a three-goal advantage — their first since a 3-0 win at RPI on Nov. 29, 2025.
SU kept the puck in the offensive zone with several ensuing chances. It recorded a possession that lasted a full minute and yielded just two wide shots from Williment and Walsh.
An even longer shift of nearly two minutes followed for Delaware, which culminated in a media timeout after back-to-back icings. But 17 seconds later, Costabile and Kinsler earned additional points. This time, it was connecting with Nea Tervonen, who flicked a rocket cross-ice and into the top-right corner of the Blue Hens’ goal.
SU held on for the remainder of the period, even earning a power play with just under five minutes in the period. Despite its three shots of target practice, it couldn’t extend the advantage.
Drabyk recorded six and eight saves in the final two periods, respectively. Her most impressive one came a minute into the third. She gloved a Victoria Borg shot moments after Katelynn Charlton hit the post to add to her perfect outing.
After the Orange’s first three games against Delaware were full of surprises where they held their breath through late tied games, they could exhale Saturday in their largest shutout win since dismantling Lindenwood 5-0 on Feb. 1, 2025. A 4-0 win also gave SU a 4-0 season record against the Blue Hens, giving them a pleasant welcome to the AHA and D-I hockey.
