Syracuse Dominates Mercyhurst in AHA Semifinals Opener: A Game Recap from Syracuse University Athletics

ERIE, PA. – Syracuse University women’s ice hockey achieved an impressive 1-0 victory over the No. 2 seed Mercyhurst in game one of the AHA semifinals. This win puts the Orange ahead in the best-of-three series.

Syracuse (15-21-0, 12-9-0 AHA) opened the scoring early with a powerful shot from Charli Kettyle, assisted by Stella Costabile and Nea Tervonen. Goalkeeper Allie Kelley was phenomenal, making a total of 47 saves throughout the game, earning a well-deserved shutout.

Mercyhurst (18-15-2, 13-7-1 AHA) faced challenges in trying to penetrate Syracuse’s strong defense. Their goalkeeper, Jorden Mattison, did her best, turning away 14 shots but couldn’t bring home a win.

Game Highlights

• Kettyle scored the only goal at the 11:34 mark in the first period. Her quick shot, following great setups from Costabile and Tervonen, gave Syracuse a crucial lead.
• The second period featured a defensive battle, with both teams focusing heavily on preventing scoring opportunities.
• In the final period, Mercyhurst aggressively sought an equalizer, attempting 30 shots. However, Syracuse’s defense remained solid.
• Despite the Lakers’ relentless efforts, Syracuse held firm, sealing the game with their 1-0 lead.

Notable Stats

• Syracuse out-blocked Mercyhurst 16 to 7, with Sami Gendron leading the way with five blocks.
• Overall, Mercyhurst took 77 shots in the game, but Kelley stopped all 47 shots on goal.
• This match marked Kettyle’s ninth goal of the season.

What’s Next for Syracuse

• The Orange will face Mercyhurst again on Saturday for game two of the AHA semifinals.
• The winner of this series will advance to the championship next weekend.
• Game time is set for 2 p.m., with options for live streaming on FloHockey and live stats available at hurstathletics.com.