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Syracuse had a below-average 2024-25 season until the end of January. Entering their Jan. 24 series against the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Orange were just 7-19 and on a seven-game skid. But SU enjoyed one of its best stretches in program history in the next few weeks, winning six of eight games entering the playoffs.
The majority of that success was attributed to Syracuse’s offense. The Orange averaged 4.13 goals per game over their last six contests and found goals from 13 different players. Their offense was clicking in ways they hadn’t all season. Entering the playoffs, SU needed similar production to continue its winning ways.
Instead, the offensive output hasn’t been replicated. Following a close win in game one of the Atlantic Hockey America Semifinals Friday, Syracuse (15-22-0, 11-9-0 AHA) was trounced 4-0 by Mercyhurst (19-15-2, 13-6-1 AHA) in the second game of the series Saturday. The Orange tallied fewer than 20 shots on goal for the second consecutive game and failed to score for the first time since Jan. 18.
In game one of the series, SU tallied just 15 shots on goal, but little offensive output wasn’t an issue. Backed by Allie Kelley’s 47-save shutout, one first-period goal from Charli Kettyle was all Syracuse needed to jump out to an early lead in the series.
On Saturday, though, the Orange conceded early. Chantal Ste-Croix sped down the right wing and cut in front of Sami Gendron, finding just enough space to lift the puck past Kelley’s shoulder and into the cage. An early deficit meant SU couldn’t sit back like it had Friday. Makayla Javier added a second for Mercyhurst nine minutes into the period, amplifying Syracuse’s need for an offensive spark.
The Orange were forced to push forward and find scoring opportunities in the first. They didn’t find much. SU tallied just two shots on target in the final 15 minutes after Ste-Croix’s goal, both of which were ushered out of danger by Magdalena Luggin. Syracuse went the final 9:39 minutes of the first period without a shot.
Still, the Orange weren’t out of it. While it was an abysmal 1-15 when conceding first in the regular season, SU had come back from down 2-0 to level with Mercyhurst twice this season, including two weekends ago in Erie. The second period would be crucial to flip the momentum.
Instead, Syracuse found similar results to the first. While the period brought a game-high eight shots, the Orange couldn’t find much in the offensive zone.
SU’s best chance of the period came two-and-a-half minutes in. Charlotte Hallet won the puck along the boards and found Rylee McLeod for a two-on-one chance. McLeod fired a wrister that Luggin deflected away with her left pad.
That was one of the only chances for Syracuse to regain any momentum and cut into the deficit. The Lakers added two more goals in the second period, squashing any chance the Orange had at a comeback.
Syracuse earned its first and only power play chance with three minutes left in the second. SU’s special teams unit entered the game tied for 10th in the nation with 22 power-play goals but ended its only chance on Saturday with one shot on net.
With the game out of reach in the fourth, offensive struggles persisted. The Orange had just three shots on goal in the final period, far too few to spark any momentum swing.
As the final horn sounded, Syracuse was outshot 39-16, bringing its weekend total to a -55 shot differential.
On Friday, SU’s lack of offense was overridden by its stellar defense, but its difficulty creating opportunities caught up to it Saturday. While the Orange have scraped by relying on Kelley’s superhuman heroics before, the 4-0 walloping Saturday proves Syracuse cannot consistently rely on defense to guide it to victory.
In a win-or-go-home battle Sunday afternoon, Syracuse’s attackers will need to find their end-of-season form to keep its season alive.
The post Syracuse’s offensive struggles leads to AHA Semifinal loss to Mercyhurst appeared first on The Daily Orange.