Undisciplined play hinders Syracuse in 4-1 loss to Lindenwood
Syracuse moved back under .500 on the season after it was hindered by seven penalties in a three-goal loss to Lindenwood. Eli Schwartz | Contributing Photographer
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In Syracuse’s Oct. 28 clash with No. 4 Cornell, everything that could’ve gone wrong, went wrong. Poor power play defense (two goals allowed), lackluster goaltending and faceoff struggles (38.6% win rate) were some snippets of an overall woeful performance that culminated in a lopsided 5-0 loss.
So, after a much-needed 10 days of rest, the Orange entered Friday’s match versus Lindenwood needing a pulse, as they were just 2-3 in games following a loss this season. Despite a 5.4% shot rate, Jordan Blouin’s overtime power-play goal gave SU a narrow 2-1 win over the Lions.
The win was another chapter in a book of victories against LU, as Syracuse improved to 45-10-4 all-time against Lindenwood and won its third straight over the Lions.
On Saturday, the Orange looked to add to the book and get over .500 for the second time this season. They also aimed to sweep the Lions, something they failed to do last November in a series split.
But they couldn’t. Syracuse (6-7, 4-2 Atlantic Hockey America) fell 4-1 to Lindenwood (3-11, 2-4 AHA) on Saturday, as many of the issues that arose against Cornell returned. While Charlotte Hallett gave SU an early 1-0 lead, subpar discipline and power-play defense resulted in the loss. The Orange’s seven penalties were their second-most this season behind their eight against Delaware on Oct. 18.
On Friday, Syracuse’s attack was held in check early. It didn’t take low-quality shots but didn’t squeak the puck past Lions goalie Lexington Secreto once.
Saturday, however, was a different story. Just four minutes into the first period, Hallett stormed down the right wing and fired the puck through LU goalie Madison Bowtell for an early goal. The tally was a microcosm of Syracuse’s early aggression, and it seemed SU would be well on its way to a sweep.
That didn’t hold true for long.
After Hallett’s goal, Syracuse began to commit careless turnover after careless turnover, resulting in a lack of sustained possessions. Both sides played stifling defense, but SU’s poor discipline started to show its true colors.
Due to roughing on Nea Tervonen, the Lions had their first power play of the game with three minutes remaining in the first period. LU entered with a measly 9.1% woman-up conversion rate, the second-worst in the AHA, but its struggles didn’t last for long.
Michaela Paulinyova, who came into the game leading Lindenwood with four goals, split through SU’s defense and rifled a shot that Drabyk had her glove well-prepared for. But Hannah Dods tipped in the puck to even the score.
Fifty-five seconds later, another SU penalty gave LU its second power play chance in as many minutes. It couldn’t convert this time, but its attack nearly had another goal as it peppered goalie Ava Drabyk and SU’s backline.
Other than winning the faceoff battle 9-6, the Lions dominated the first period following Hallett’s goal. They outshot SU 21-9 overall and 14-6 on goal. They committed fewer turnovers. They simply looked like the more prepared and disciplined team.
Not long into the second frame, Syracuse’s lack of preparedness continued to show.
After Emma Gnade lost a faceoff to Zsofia Pazmandi, Paulinyova took the deflected puck and zoomed the other way for a fast break goal just 15 seconds into the period to give LU a 2-1 advantage. SU’s defenders were multiple steps behind Paulinyova, and Drabyk had no chance.
The second period, just like the first, was full of power play chances for the Lions.
Syracuse nearly tied the game on a solid look from Mik Todd on a Lindenwood power play, but Bowtell made a diving save to preserve its lead. Todd’s shot was an encouraging sign of aggression from the Orange, but it didn’t amount to much.
With under four minutes to go in the period, deja vu occurred for SU. On a Lindenwood four-on-three power play, the Lions won the faceoff and immediately raced down the ice. Drabyk saved Josey Dunne-Weeks’ initial shot, but Tatiana Blichova’s slapshot got through the netminder to extend LU’s lead to two.
It was a mix of disastrous defense and discipline, and Blichova provided what eventually became the nail in the coffin.
The second period was SU’s calling card to start the season. Versus Stonehill on Oct. 3, the Orange scored two of their three goals in the second frame en route to a 3-2 win. In their 5-2 victory over RIT on Oct. 24, they exploded for three second-period goals, including two from the power play.
On Saturday, Syracuse instead dug itself into a hole it couldn’t get out of in the second.
The Orange had several chances to trim their deficit on a power play in the third, but Bowtell, who recorded an impressive 96.3% save rate for the game, held steady.
Blichova’s empty netter, her second goal of the game, sealed the deal.
For as talented as Syracuse’s offense has proved to be, such as scoring eight goals against Stonehill on Oct. 4, it won’t get very far without strong discipline. And by committing seven penalties against a 3-11 Lindenwood team, Saturday was a step in the wrong direction.
