Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Under first-year head coach Britni Smith, Syracuse looks to repeat as College Hockey America champions. Last season, the Orange earned the top seed in the conference tournament with a regular season record of 11-4-1 before winning the CHA tournament. SU defeated RIT 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals, then beat Mercyhurst for the title by the same scoreline. Sarah Thompson scored the game-winning goal in overtime, giving SU its second ever NCAA tournament berth, eventually losing 4-0 to Quinnipiac in the first round.
The Orange lost Abby Moloughney, their top scorer with 17 goals last season, who had a hat trick in the CHA semifinals. Another forward, Victoria Klimek, who tied for second on the team with 10 goals, also graduated along with defenders Shelby Calof and Jessica DiGirolamo.
Syracuse returns three of its top five scorers, including sophomores Sarah Marchand and Madison Primeau, as well as graduate student Lauren Bellefontaine, who set the single-season record for faceoff wins last year.
Mae Batherson leads a young blueline as the lone senior defenseman on the roster. Junior Hannah Johnson also brings experience defensively and played in all 32 of SU’s games last season. Goalie Arielle DeSmet also returns in her second season with the Orange.
Syracuse opened up nonconference play with a 3-0 loss to No. 6 Colgate last week. As their home opener is set for next week against St. Lawrence, here’s a quick preview of the Orange’s 2022-23 team:
Opponents on the schedule
SU continues its nonconference schedule with a two-game road trip against Merrimack, before two more games against St. Lawrence and Clarkson, both of whom Syracuse lost to last season.
On Oct. 21, Syracuse will play Clarkson for a third time in the Adirondack Ice Breaker Tournament in Lake Placid. Depending on the result, Syracuse will face off against Holy Cross or St. Lawrence in the next round. Other nonconference games for SU include Princeton, Vermont, Post, Colgate, Cornell and Stonehill.
Syracuse opens up Conference Hockey America play at home on Oct. 27 against RIT, who SU defeated in all five meetings last season. SU also had success last season against Lindenwood, beating them in three of four matchups. The Orange will play Lindenwood at Tennity Ice Pavilion on Nov. 4 and 5.
In a rematch of the CHA championship last season, SU will visit…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at "ice hockey" – Google News…