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Syracuse was surging the last time it entered the Mercyhurst Ice Center for a series. It’d won seven of its last eight games, beaten Robert Morris in the Atlantic Hockey America Semifinals and was well-positioned to make a run in the AHA Tournament.

For one night, SU’s dreams of capturing an elusive AHA title didn’t look far-fetched. The Orange blanked the Lakers 1-0 in Game 1 of the conference semifinals behind Charli Kettyle’s goal and Allie Kelley’s 47 saves. Just like that, they were on the brink of their first AHA finals appearance.

But Syracuse ultimately ran out of magic and couldn’t conquer its kryptonite, falling in both Games 2 and 3 to drop the series. It was a microcosm of SU’s playoff struggles against the Lakers, as the Orange fell to Mercyhurst in the postseason every year from 2010-14 and again in 2018 and 2023.

Friday’s stakes weren’t as high as a playoff game, but they were certainly close. Syracuse entered its clash with Mercyhurst in fourth place in the AHA and just a point behind RIT. Yet to keep pace with the Tigers, SU needed to exorcise its demons and tie or beat the Lakers.

It did just that. Syracuse (14-15-4, 10-10-3 AHA) secured a vital two points Friday, tying Mercyhurst (20-10-3, 16-5-2 AHA) 2-2 and winning the shootout behind Emma Gnade’s game-winner. SU trailed 2-1 with 90 seconds remaining in regulation, but Jackson Kinsler’s equalizer sent the game to overtime and eventually a shootout, where it prevailed.

After Syracuse’s 4-2 loss to RIT last Saturday, associate head coach Heather Farrell said her squad “wasn’t as sharp as she would’ve liked” in the first period. And the statement was for good reason, as SU committed careless turnovers en route to a 1-0 early deficit.

On Friday, it was a vastly different story. Syracuse made a statement on its very first shot.

Thirty-eight seconds into the game, Mercyhurst’s Payten Evans held the puck just inches outside the Lakers’ goal. Simultaneously, Rylee McLeod was right there, looking to snatch it away. Within seconds, McLeod stole the puck and rifled it into the net for an early score.

The Orange’s aggression was evident throughout the whole period, as they pestered goalie Magdalena Luggin with repeated shots. But Luggin, whose 92.6% save rate is third in the AHA, held steady.

SU goalie Ava Drabyk did the same on the other end until Holly VanNetten knotted the game at 1-1. Nobody could locate the puck after multiple blocked shots, but VanNetten squeezed one by the Orange’s netminder.

Even with Mercyhurst’s goal, Syracuse played a clean brand of hockey in the first and didn’t gift the Lakers any power play chances. It marked the first time since Jan. 16 the Orange didn’t commit a costly first-period penalty.

Following an Avery Bryk tripping foul, SU had its first power play two minutes into the second. Nea Tervonen misfired before Luggin slid to save a Stella Costabile shot. The Orange remained ultra-aggressive but couldn’t cash in.

Syracuse’s player-up unit ranks second-to-last in the AHA with a paltry 12.6% conversion rate, and its shortcomings persisted Friday.

Against the Tigers Saturday, SU showed a clear sense of urgency in the second period that was absent in the first. On Friday against the Lakers, it was the polar opposite. Syracuse played sloppily and undisciplined.

The Orange continued to unravel early in the final frame, and it looked eerily similar to Saturday’s loss, where they surrendered two third-period goals.

Charging up the ice and outracing SU’s defense, Jade Maisonneuve dished a feed to Berlin Lolacher. Lolacher fired the perfectly-placed pass past Drabyk to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead.

SU had its back against the wall. It was in a perilous spot and in danger of falling to fifth in the AHA, a scenario where it wouldn’t host a playoff game.

So, who would step up for the Orange down one with under two minutes to go? Would it be McLeod again? Leading scorer Gnade?

It was Kinsler. After transferring to Syracuse from Boston University due to minimal playing time, she had her signature moment with the Orange Friday night.

Following a Maja Alenius turnover, Costabile gathered it and flipped her eyes toward the crease. She dished it to Kinsler, who knocked it past Luggin to tie the game.

Kinsler’s goal was extremely reminiscent of Celia Wiegand’s on Nov. 21, 2025, against Mercyhurst. Down 2-1 then, Wiegand evened the score to send it to overtime before SU emerged victorious in a shootout.

Despite peppering Luggin with shots in overtime, the goalie held her ground. Syracuse’s shot barrage was encouraging for a dormant offense for much of the night, but it couldn’t get one through Luggin.

For all its inconsistencies, SU has been fairly successful in shootouts this season. In addition to upsetting Mercyhurst in November, the Orange stunned then-No. 5 Cornell in a shootout for their first non-loss against the Big Red in 15 years on Nov. 25, 2025.

Both goalies saved their first two shots, but Gnade’s goal sealed the deal. Once 90 seconds away from a demoralizing loss, Syracuse turned it into one of its most clutch performances of the campaign.

Saturday will reveal whether Friday’s showing was a one-off or a sign of things to come. But regardless, the Orange looked quite promising in a potential playoff preview.

Published on February 13, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Contact Spencer: sabrod@syr.edu | @spencerbrod20