Syracuse opens conference play with 2-1 overtime win vs. Delaware

Celia Wiegand's game-winning goal with less than seven seconds remaining in the game gave Syracuse its first-ever win over Delaware Friday. Angelina Grevi | Staff Photographer
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No matter the sport, there’s something special about a program embarking on its inaugural season.
Without any history to look back on, there aren’t any real expectations entering its first year. At the same time, there’s also no reason to believe it doesn’t have a chance to go on a miracle run and shock the world. This year — its first as a program since it was established on March 30, 2024 — Delaware is trying to do just that.
In the months before the 2025-26 campaign, the Blue Hens assembled their roster by gathering a mix of local club hockey players, transfer portal additions and a whopping 17 freshmen — the most of any Division I program. Besides recording its first-ever victory over Holy Cross just four games into its existence, it’s been an otherwise slow start for Delaware.
After being easily dispatched by then-No. 6 Penn State in its first Atlantic Hockey America series, a battle with the Orange provided a second chance for the Blue Hens to secure their first conference win in program history.
On a night where it wasn’t at its best, Syracuse (3-4, 1-0 AHA) downed Delaware (1-6, 0-3 AHA) 2-1 in an overtime thriller, lifted to victory by Celia Wiegand’s game-winning goal with 6.4 seconds left. The Orange fell victim to a season-high nine penalties but still held the Blue Hens scoreless on the player advantage. Their offense also racked up 50 shots on target, while Ava Drabyk shined in her fifth start of the campaign, stopping 25-of-26 shots.
Despite all the unknowns surrounding its next opponent, associate head coach Heather Farrell stated SU would approach its first-ever game at Fred Rust Ice Arena like it would any other.
“We know what we’re going to get from them. They’ve had enough games and they have a really good recruiting class. We know they’re going to battle and compete. We’ll prepare for Delaware just like we prepare for anyone else,” Farrell said following SU’s loss to then-No. 7 Quinnipiac on Oct. 10.
In the second matchup in that series with Quinnipiac, there weren’t many positives for the Orange to take away. After showing they could keep up with the Bobcats despite losing 3-0 the night before, everything fell apart in Game 2. The Orange fell behind 4-0 after the first two periods and never came close to mounting a comeback.
The only bright spot for SU was its trio of Emma Gnade, Jackson Kinsler and Jordan Blouin, who combined for its lone tally of the game and the series. A mix of youth and experience, the three have proven to be vital pieces of Syracuse’s offense to open the campaign.
Entering Friday’s contest with four points in her past three games, it didn’t take long for Blouin to find her way onto the scoresheet. Following a back-and-forth opening eight minutes, a Blue Hen turnover in the neutral zone sprung Blouin and Peyton Armstrong on a two-on-one the other direction.
With Armstrong to her left, Blouin held onto the puck at the right side of the goal and sent it into the crease, hoping her teammate would tap home the one-timer. Instead, a fortunate bounce off a stray stick in front of the cage redirected the puck past goalie Charlotte Payne. The tally boded well for SU, which had yet to lose a game this season when it scored first.
Syracuse became pretty familiar with the penalty box throughout its first six games. In fact, its 44 penalty minutes as a team during the span was tied for 20th in the nation and third in the AHA. That lack of discipline carried over into conference play, as the Orange couldn’t seem to stay out of the box after the midway point of the first period.
Gifted nine chances to take advantage on the power play — including a brief five-on-three and four-on-three bid — the Blue Hens’ special teams unit wasted them all. Drabyk was the main reason why.
Although Syracuse’s coaches have made it clear the starting goalie spot is still anyone’s job, the freshman was given her third straight start and fifth overall Friday night. The decision proved to be right, as her dazzling saves led to the Blue Hens’ 0-for-9 night on the player advantage.
“I think throughout all the games, I’ve definitely found my place and it’s kind of settled in. I think playing against top opponents in the past years as well has helped, but everyone’s been so supportive and I think that’s helped a lot, too,” Drabyk said.
While Drabyk shined at one end, fellow freshman Payne was just as sharp between the pipes for Delaware. Holding SU to a frustrating 0-for-4 mark on the power play, she gave her team a chance to win. Of the 50 shots she faced, only two of them found the back of the net. Unfortunately for Payne, one of those tallies was during overtime.
With less than 10 seconds left in the extra frame, it seemed like the Orange and Blue Hens were on the verge of settling for a tie. Then, an unlikely hero emerged for SU.
After logging just two goals last year as a freshman, Wiegand took matters into her own hands. With open ice to work with, she took the puck around the back of the net and beat Payne with a quick wrist shot from inside the left circle, bailing out SU on a night where it didn’t play its best hockey.
The Orange weren’t particularly crisp throughout this game, but they still got the job done despite their performance raising more questions than answers. And in a conference as tight as the AHA, sometimes that’s all that matters.
