Syracuse commands Robert Morris 2-0 for 4th straight win, 3rd straight shutout
With its 2-0 victory over Robert Morris Saturday, Syracuse ice hockey secured its fourth straight win and third straight clean sheet. Courtesy of Robert Morris Athletics
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Syracuse and Robert Morris are nestled in the heart of Atlantic Hockey America. Nearly halfway between 40-point No. 4 Penn State and five-point Delaware, the Orange and Colonials lie beside each other, trading blows throughout their first three meetings this season.
In the first go-around on Dec. 5, SU was shut out for the sixth time this campaign — fourth at home — and fell 1-0. Although Syracuse won the shot battle 36-23, RMU goaltender Maggie Hatch, who came into Saturday with the AHA’s top save percentage of 93%, stifled it.
The following day, the Orange appeared to turn a corner, striking first with an Emma Gnade power-play goal. Heidi Knoll responded to two unanswered Robert Morris tallies, forcing overtime and a shootout. Dominated by the Colonials’ top line, Syracuse fell short, gaining just one AHA point in the 2-2 draw.
Hatch was outclassed by Orange goaltender Ava Drabyk at Clearview Arena Friday for the first time, conceding thrice in the first period in SU’s 3-0 triumph. With its freshman netminder coming off back-to-back shutouts and three straight wins, its cards were falling into place at the right time.
Syracuse (12-11-3, 8-6-2 AHA) carried its momentum into Saturday’s matinee, downing Robert Morris (10-14-2, 6-8-2 AHA) 2-0 for its fourth consecutive victory and third straight clean sheet behind Drabyk’s 19 saves. Defender Rachel Walsh broke the goose egg in the second. Jackson Kinsler, who had multiple early chances, put the Colonials to sleep with an empty-netter in the waning seconds.
Coming into Saturday with a chance at breaking the two programs’ all-time tie at 29-29-10 — as well as a standings separation of just one point — the victory was crucial. But for nearly 32 minutes, it didn’t seem tangible.
The Orange haven’t been outdone in shots on goal since their 2-2 tie and shootout win over then-No. 5 Cornell on Nov. 25, 2025. RMU wanted to challenge that streak early, peppering Drabyk with five pellets before Syracuse even got two on Hatch.
Kinsler had a barrage of chances in the first period. Two minutes in, she had a breakaway, but the Colonials’ defense batted the puck away. While SU tried to kill a Makenna Williment penalty, the junior had another 1-on-1 with Hatch but botched the shot wide.
Kinsler’s best opportunity came in the final minute of the period, scraping the goal line, as Hatch cleared the puck. Kinsler and Walsh followed with two shots in the final 15 seconds to no avail.
With Morgan Giannone — a winger on RMU’s top line — in the penalty box, it was the perfect time for SU to convert. Yet, they were left empty, only leading in shots on goal by two through a period. Even after Friday’s three-goal first period, it was the 12th time SU was left scoreless through the first 20 minutes.
With minimal time on the advantage to open the second frame, Maya D’Arcy gave the Orange their last chance up a player with a shot from the back-left corner of the offensive zone. Although the power play ended, SU had the next five shots, and two landed on goal.
The two squads traded long, multi-shot possessions. Four minutes in, Kinsler gave Hatch two tests. A few minutes later, Jessica MacKinnon and Alaina Giampietro, the other two members of Robert Morris’ first unit, failed to squeak by Drabyk.
Off a gritty Nea Tervonen faceoff win over Mary Snyder with eight and a half remaining in the second period, the puck trickled back to the right flank for Walsh to corral. Waiting for the perfect opportunity, the freshman flicked it into the cage from distance.
SU’s momentum sailed through the roof from that point on. It was responsible for the next three shots on goal and had strong chances that were blocked on a late power play.
After a 12-3 shots-on-goal domination in the second, Syracuse was slightly outlasted in the third frame. This allowed Drabyk to shine, making a pad save on Emma Goding two minutes in and dispatching later tries from Giannone and MacKinnon.
The Orange were knocking on the door on an early power play, featuring nine shots and six on goal. Yet, they couldn’t capitalize. Gnade whiffed on a back-door opportunity when Hatch was on her opposite side of the crease. Syracuse’s 12.1% power-play conversion rate has been disappointing, among other special teams struggles, but eight of its 29 shots Saturday came in its six and a half minutes up a woman.
SU went down a woman when RMU head coach Logan Bittle surprisingly pulled Hatch with over three and a half minutes to go for an extra attacker. The Orange made him pay.
With just over 30 seconds to go, a loose puck bounced past the Colonials’ blue line, and Kinsler used her blazing speed to beat MacKinnon, Linnea Misner and Laura Eustace to it. With an empty net, Hatch wouldn’t be there to stop her this time. Kinsler finally got on the board to catapult Syracuse up in the AHA standings on a day when Mercyhurst inched further to the top, shocking Penn State for its first conference loss.
