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With 15 blown leads or ties and two eight-plus game losing streaks — which has never happened in program history — Syracuse has struggled in its third season under Britni Smith. An 8-20-0 record. Outshot in 24 of 28 games. Ranked 32nd of 44 teams nationally in scoring defense.

Still, a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology Saturday propelled SU past its win total from the 2023-24 season (7-24-3). However, even in the victory, the Orange continued a trend of crumbling down the stretch in close contests.

In its 28 games, Syracuse has scored two or fewer goals 21 times while allowing 2.8 goals per game. And, as SU’s late-game struggles have persisted since the calendar flipped to 2025, it’s allowed 25 of its 29 goals in the second period or later, an 86.2% distribution clip.

“We don’t expect this season to be easy in our league,” Smith said following Syracuse’s 3-2 loss on Oct. 26 to Boston University. “There’s no easy one. There’s no easy game, and that’s something that we’ve already seen.”

Though the Orange ended 2024 with a commanding sweep over Robert Morris, which they beat 4-1 on two straight days, late-game struggles have plagued them, resulting in a 1-8 January record. Syracuse has been outscored 29-13 in the stretch.

SU’s frequent losses often stem from deeper issues beyond what happens on the rink each week. The personnel Smith trusts, the behind-the-scenes actions of each skater and facing high-level competition have all contributed to the Orange’s skid. No matter what Smith dials up, opposing teams are consistently a step ahead.

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In its first game of 2025, Syracuse was bound to struggle. On top of nearly a month away from the ice, the Orange were facing then-No. 4 Minnesota Duluth, their highest-ranked opponent of the season.

Syracuse initially held its own before UMD responded with three second-period goals to secure a 6-2 victory. In the rematch the following day, Allie Kelley’s 12 second-period saves kept Syracuse in contention. But with just three third-period shots, the Orange fell 2-1.

Just as it had in many games during the first half of the season, SU struggled in the closing moments.

“That’s what good teams do is they find ways to continue to pressure and wear teams down,” Smith said of Syracuse’s late-game collapses.

This pattern emerged the following weekend against Mercyhurst. SU allowed two goals over the first two periods of Jan. 10’s game and couldn’t rally, falling 2-1. On Jan. 11, despite Kelley’s 17-save first period, the Orange managed just five testing shots on Mercyhurst goaltender Magdalena Luggin.

Mercyhurst capitalized with two second-period goals. Despite SU scoring twice in the third, two late Lakers finishes in the same period extended the Orange’s losing streak.

With a short week ahead, SU had every reason to start the game the same way it had in its first four matchups of 2025. However, it got going early against then-No. 6 Cornell on Jan. 14.

The Orange scored twice early but lost momentum after Cornell replaced its first-time starting goaltender Jeanne Lortie with regular starter Annelies Bergmann after the first period. SU mustered just one total shot between the second and third periods, while the Big Red scored six of the game’s seven final goals.

The 6-3 loss meant Syracuse ended its nonconference schedule with a 2-12 record, extending its losing streak to five.

“We believe that in conference play, we’re ready to make a statement. We’re ready to make a push and play our best hockey coming into the playoffs,” Smith said following SU’s loss to Cornell.

Back in Atlantic Hockey America competition, though, Syracuse’s woes reached new depths against then-No. 9 Penn State on Jan. 17 and 18. For the first time since Feb. 23-24, 2018, the Orange were shut out in a weekend series.

In its next series against RIT — which the Orange previously swept — the series opener Friday saw Celia Wiegand score her first career goal, giving them an early lead. But the Orange surrendered two second-period goals and fell 2-1.

But Saturday against the Tigers, Syracuse defied expectations — exploding on offense early and locking down on defense to secure the win.

SU jumped out to an early lead with two first-period goals — only the fifth time it had done so all season. It tallied another score in the second period, heading into the final 20 minutes with a 3-0 lead.

In the third period, RIT started mounting a comeback. First, it scored a power-play goal 5:37 into play. Still ahead by two goals, Syracuse was in a comfortable spot. Yet, that two-goal lead was quickly halved when Kyla Bear scored for the Tigers four minutes later.

With 10 minutes to play, SU seemed like it might lose its lead again. But Jessica Cheung made a game-saving block with 1:10 to play, sealing the Orange’s first victory in 49 days.

Syracuse’s rare bright spots haven’t hidden its ongoing struggles. To compete in the AHA playoffs, where they currently rank fourth, the Orange must build resilience under pressure. Though there are flashes of potential, late-game consistency will be key to SU’s final six games.

“I think we’re a more competitive team this year. We’re a team that has really bought into the way we need to play,” Smith said. “I think we’re prepared come playoff time.”

Published on January 29, 2025 at 10:07 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_