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Syracuse ties Mercyhurst after Burriss scores 3rd-period equalizer
When Syracuse and Mercyhurst played two games in November, the two teams combined to score 11 goals. But on Friday, points were hard to come by and the Orange (6-10-8, 4-2-4 College Hockey America) tied the No. 9 Lakers (16-4-3, 7-3-1), 1-1, in the first match of a two-game series.
Mercyhurst killed off all nine power plays it surrendered and Syracuse did the same on its six disadvantages. SU goalie Jenn Gilligan finished with 19 saves and Mercyhurst’s Amanda Makela had 22.
In the first period, neither team could crack the scoreboard. But just over halfway through the second period, Mercyhurst defender Lauren Kilroy scored her first goal of the season on her only shot of the game.
The Lakers kept the lead for nearly 20 minutes, until SU forward Alysha Burriss found the back of the net for the ninth time this year, to tying the game at one goal apiece. SU defender Danielle Leslie and forward Heather Schwarz both assisted on the goal.
Both teams put two shots on net during the five-minute overtime period, but the game ended tied.
With the tie, the second-place Orange earned its 12th point in conference play and moved one point ahead of Penn State. SU still trails top-ranked Mercyhurst by three points.
Syracuse and Mercyhurst will play again on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Erie, Pennsylvania.
