Game Details: CHA Semifinals (Best-of-three series)
at Mercyhurst (Feb. 24 at 1 pm; Feb. 25 at 2 pm; Feb. 26 at 1 pm (if necessary)
Watch: FloHockey Friday, Feb. 24 | Saturday, Feb. 25 | Sunday, Feb. 26
Live Stats
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Syracuse: News | Roster | Schedule | Notes
The Orange begin postseason play in the College Hockey America semifinals at Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa. The best-of-three series starts on Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 pm. Game two is Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 pm and game three, if necessary, will be Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 pm. Tickets for each game are $15 for adults and $10 for youth, military and senior citizens.
First-year head coach Britni Smith and the Orange (10-22-2, 6-9-1 CHA) are the third seed in the 2023 CHA Tournament, while the Lakers (19-13-2, 11-3-2 CHA) are the second seed. This marks the 14th CHA Tournament semifinal appearance for ‘Cuse in the 15 year history of the program.
Orange CHA Tournament History
Syracuse enters the 2023 College Hockey America Tournament as the third seed and will play a three-game semifinal series against second-seed Mercyhurst on Feb. 24, 25 and 26 in Erie, Pa. The Orange won the 2022 CHA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second timein program history. Syracuse beat Mercyhurst, 3-2, in overtime. The 2019 Orange won the CHA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Syracuse ranks second in the CHA for CHA Championship Game appearances with nine since the program started in 2008-09. Mercyhurst, which has played in the CHA since 2003, is first with 16. Syracuse has a 19-11 record (.633 win pct.) in CHA Tournament play, which is second to Mercyhurst (28-6, .823). In 2021, Syracuse lost in the championship game to Robert Morris, 1-0. Syracuse skaters have earned All-Tournament team honors 23 times. Defenseman Jessica DiGirolamo is the only three-time All-Tournament Team selection in program history (2019, 2021, 2022). Two-time winners include defenseman Megan Quinn (2017 and 2018) and forward Abby Moloughney (2019 and 2022) Goaltender Arielle DeSmet, DiGirolamo and Moloughney earned 2022 CHA All-Tournament Team honors.
2023 Regular Season Review
The first win of the Smith era was a 3-2 overtime win at Merrimack in the second game of the season. The Orange kicked off CHA play with a pair of sweeps, taking the series against RIT in October and Lindenwood in early November, and wrapped November with a sweep of Post. Syracuse closed the regular season with a victory against Stonehill on Senior Day. The roster features six seniors and fifth-year student-athletes who will be remembered for winning the 2019 and 2022 CHA Tournament Championships and the 2022 CHA Regular Season title. The group, including Mae Batherson, Lauren Bellefontaine, Arielle DeSmet, Brynn Koocher, Anna Leschyshyn, Marielle McHale, also has a cumulative grade point average of 3.46.
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