By: Joey Campbell
ROCHESTER, N.Y. --- The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers women's hockey team (12-11-3) welcomed the Syracuse Orange (7-19) on Friday after splitting a two-game series with Robert Morris last weekend. With a two goal second period, RIT was able to get past the Orange by a score of 2-1.
"Huge win. They're super excited, as are we. Each game from here on out is going to be a super competitive dog fight," RIT coach Celeste Brown said. "So to come out with the points and the win is huge."
Minding the net for the Tigers was senior goaltender Sarah Coe (7-7-1) who was coming off her fourth career shutout at Robert Morris. Coe has now surpassed her 2023-2024 season game total at 16 games played this season, holding a 2.44 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
For the Orange, they turned to captain Allie Kelley (6-19). Kelley has recently found herself in the record books as over the weekend she broke the NCAA National Collegiate saves record, surpassing the 4,167 mark previously set by Lovisa Selander from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute back in 2019. Kelley is one of only two goalies in NCAA history to eclipse the 4,000-save milestone and has already made 823 saves this season.
The Orange got on the board just seven minutes into the contest on the power play from an Addie Alvarez tripping call. Forward Nea Tervonen from the point fed defender Celia Wiegand on the wall who released a snapshot with bodies in front, Coe was never able to get a good view on the puck resulting in a 1-0 lead for the Orange. This marks as Celia Wiegand's first collegiate goal.
Power play goal from Celia Wiegand on Jan. 24, 2025. Video Credit: @CuseIce on X
Syracuse scored the only goal through the first period, outshooting the Tigers 11-5. The Tigers were able to draw a penalty in the waning seconds of the first period, giving them a power play opportunity with fresh ice going into the second.
That power play unit got RIT on the board just over a minute and a half into the second period. Tigers winger Bronwyn Khangsar sent a wrist shot from the right circle that was sent aside by Kelley. However, winger Brac Kelley got the rebound right out in front of Kelley, setting up an easy goal to tie the game at one.
Just over two minutes later, the Tigers took the lead set up from a transition 2-on-1 during 4-on-4 hockey. Winger Athena Vasdani took the puck up the left boards with defender Mia Tsilemos to her oppposite. While approaching the net, Vasdani took the puck across the goaltender, making her reach and lose her balance. Vasdani fed Tsilemos from behind Kelley setting up an easy tap-in goal to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
An overall dominant second period for the Tigers saw them take the lead in the frame. The Orange were overwhelmed by the forecheck and physicality from the Tigers as they outshot the Orange 13-6 in the second. The special teams for the Tigers showed up, scoring on the power play and 4-on-4 hockey while also shutting down a Syracuse power play in the second. RIT led 2-1 heading into the third.
Syracuse winger Mik Todd took a big hit behind RIT's net sending her to the locker room for the remainder of the game.
A very uneventful third period became somewhat tense with just 1:22 remaining in the period. A cross-checking penalty was assessed to Tigers forward Jaidan Fahrny, giving Syracuse a 6-on-4 power play with the net empty.
Syracuse had a great chance with 15 seconds left with a loose puck at the feet of Coe. However, RIT was able to hang on giving them a 2-1 win over the Orange.
"There's 15 seconds left on the clock, everybody's putting their body on the line," RIT goalie Sarah Coe said. "We're just trying to get everything out of the crease so I just did whatever I could to help keep the puck out."
RIT won 38 of the 57 faceoffs on the game despite coming in to the game winning just one percent more faceoffs than Syracuse on the season.
"It's a big part of the game, meaning there's 50 something faceoffs, which is 50 opportunities for immediate possession," Brown said. "So good job to the centers, the wingers that help in that so we're not chasing the puck from the get go."
With the win, RIT jumps to 13-11-3, giving them two points to break the tie for third place in the AHA with Syracuse. As for the Orange, they fall to 7-20 placing fourth in the division.
The two rematch tomorrow in Syracuse. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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