The Orange didn’t leave losing in 2018 with their ninth-straight loss and first of the new year. Despite controlling much of the possession, Syracuse was down two goals until it broke through RPI’s goaltender Lovisa Selander and the Engineers’ stout defense.

On Tuesday night, RPI (7-9-4, 4-4 ECAC) handed Syracuse (4-15-1, 4-3 College Hockey America) its ninth-straight non-exhibition loss in the first game of the new year. Selander and the RPI defense were the difference in the 2-1 defeat.

Trailing 2-1 late in the game, Syracuse pulled its goaltender, Ady Cohen, out of the net for a one-player advantage, which produced a flurry of chances for SU. But Selander denied them all, as she had done all night. With 41 saves, Selander moved into a tie for fifth on the NCAA all-time saves list.

Selander stopped slap shots from Jessica DiGirolamo and Allie Munroe, one-timers in front of the net from Abby Moloughney and Emma Polaski, a shortside stab from Savannah Rennie and elevated wrist shots from Brooke Avery.

Even though Syracuse nearly tripled RPI in total shots — indicative of its possession in the attacking zone — Selander rejected 41 of SU’s 42 shots on net. RPI entered the contest with the 18th-best defense in the NCAA, allowing 2.05 goals per game.

After controlling the first two periods, Syracuse finally converted with 14:48 remaining, when junior forward Anonda Hoppner’s rebound goal cut RPI’s lead to 2-1. Later in the third period, SU’s leading scorer Polaski redirected a shot in that would’ve tied the game, but the play was whistled dead for goalie interference.

Polaski led the team with seven shots on goal. DiGirolamo also paced the Orange with six shots on net from the blue line.

Cohen made her first official appearance since Oct. 26, though she started two of Syracuse’s exhibition games last week over winter break. In her fifth start of the season, Cohen stopped 17 of RPI’s 19 shots on goal and kept Syracuse in the game with two spectacular saves on an RPI power play in the third period.

Syracuse’s last non-exhibition win came against Penn State on Nov. 4. The loss to RPI brings SU’s nonconference record to 0-12-1 as the team begins CHA play on Friday against RIT.

Published on January 8, 2019 at 6:29 pm

Contact Danny: dremerma@syr.edu | @DannyEmerman