3 goals in final period lead Syracuse to 4-3 win over Lindenwood

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Victoria Klimek had not played on a line with Tatum White all season. During the past week of practice, however, the coaching staff announced that Klimek and White would begin skating together. The duo was held scoreless during the first two periods, but with the score tied at two apiece heading into the final period, Klimek and White spurred the Orange’s late string of goals.

With just over 16 minutes left in the third period, Terryn Mozes entered Lindenwood’s zone with the puck to start an attack for the Orange. But Mozes immediately faced a stiff poke check from a Lions defensemen and the puck was pried loose. Klimek got onto the loose puck and moved toward the center of the crease while starting to lose control of the puck.

Klimek decided to set up a shot for the approaching White. The sophomore forward fired a wrist shot past Lindenwood goaltender Julia Maguire’s glove side to make the score 3-2. Syracuse’s newest line pairing had given it its first lead of the game.

“We had a feeling it was going to work,” Klimek said. “We’ve done a lot of stuff throughout the week by working on offense and defense as a line.”

The goal was also part of another dominant third-period performance for Syracuse (11-9-5, 9-3-0-1 College Hockey America) in back-to-back wins over Lindenwood (5-19, 3-7 CHA). In both games, the Orange put up three goals in the final period to secure crucial conference victories over the Lady Lions.

Syracuse’s improved offensive play in the third period is a noticeable improvement from earlier in the season. In November, Syracuse only scored three third period goals in seven games. This included games like the 7-0 victory over RIT where the Orange did not score in the third. Even seniors like Klimek and Lauren Bellefontaine reflected that early on in their SU careers, the third period was never a strong point for the Orange.

Syracuse went into the third period tied at one after Bellefontaine scored on a rebound after a Rayla Clemons shot. Despite the tying goal, the Orange came into the intermission looking for a boost of energy. But instead of a speech from head coach Paul Flanagan or any of the senior captains, the players did something different.

“We had been playing like a straight line for the whole game,” Bellefontaine said. “We picked (the energy) up in the restroom. We got the music blasting and people were getting up and dancing as we were fighting each other up.”

While the dancing helped the team’s energy, the third period still didn’t start out strong for SU. Syracuse began the period on a power play that carried over from the end of the second, and Lindenwood’s Rachel Goff won an early faceoff, skating past Mae Batherson and beat Allison Small on the breakaway to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.

After Goff’s goal, Lindenwood’s lead lasted just 50 seconds. Syracuse quickly tied the game at two as Sarah Thompson and Madison Primeau converted on a two-on-one opportunity. Thompson skated down the right side of the Lions’ zone, with Primeau flanking to her left. Instead of making an immediate pass, Thompson held onto the puck and attempted a shot between Maguire’s legs. Thompson’s quick wrister beat Maguire and the score was tied at two.

White then scored to take the lead, but Lindenwood’s Sydney Rarick took advantage of another SU penalty and scored with just over 11 minutes left in the game.

Five minutes later, Sarah Marchand won a faceoff in the offensive zone, putting Hannah Johnson in a perfect position to retrieve the puck. Johnson passed it along the boards to White who began skating behind the net. White saw that Klimek had space between two Lindenwood defenders, so she flipped the puck to her.

Klimek already had an extra step on Lions defenseman Casey Adimey, so the graduate student inched closer to the net and that sailed right past Maguire’s glove, giving the Orange a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Flanagan said that even in the early stages of the game, he was impressed by Klimek’s play, saying that she must’ve been playing “different batteries.”

“She had her feet going today,” Flanagan said. “She legitimately could add about four or five goals.”