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Allie Kelley knew she wouldn’t play much at Quinnipiac.

During her freshman and sophomore seasons from 2019-21, Kelley appeared just twice. She was recovering from knee surgery as a freshman, then was the third string goalie her sophomore year, stuck behind Logan Angers — who’s been Quinnipiac’s starter ever since.

So, following her sophomore season, Kelley transferred to Saint Anselm College, a Division II school in Goffstown, N.H. Kelley rarely left the ice at Saint Anselm, starting 67-of-71 games. In two years, she etched her name into the program’s record books, holding the all-time save percentage record at .939. Now in her graduate season with Syracuse, Kelley has started its first 11 games.

Kelley made an instant impact at Saint Anselm. She won the starting goalie job and set the single-game program record for saves in her debut with 52 in a victory over Maine.

“I think we all knew she was good and then we started her against Maine to open the season,” said Saint Anselm head coach Jen Kindret. “She was just phenomenal and we knew that was our goalie.”

Kindret said Kelley’s physical game was extremely polished, with her acrobatic saves. Kelley felt she needed to work on the mental side of being a goalie.

The same year Kelley joined the program, Sean Maguire, a former Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Draft pick, was hired as Saint Anselm’s goaltending coach. Maguire said Kelley’s talent was apparent, and helped her increase her hockey IQ.

Maguire said he didn’t need to change much about Kelley’s game other than her anticipation. Maguire worked with Kelley to read what opposing offenses were doing.

“He helped me a lot with my mental game and confidence,” Kelley said of Maguire. “But he was also amazing on the ice. I miss him a lot and felt comfortable talking to him about anything.”

Former teammate Margaret Sullivan helped Kelley become more comfortable on the ice. A forward on Saint Anselm at the time, Sullivan reached out to Kelley after she transferred and asked if they wanted to live together, Sullivan said.

The two immediately hit it off, rooming together for their junior year and becoming extremely close.

Pitted at different positions, Sullivan and Kelley often battled each other in open skates. They also watched film together to gain perspective on both sides of the puck, Sullivan said.

During winter break of their junior season, most of the school went home to their families. Kelley and Sullivan stayed at Saint Anselm’s for a few days extra to work on their game.

“It was probably the most fun that we’ve ever had,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan worked on her offensive game over that break, challenging Kelley in net. One drill began with Sullivan in the corner, who skated out toward a few sets of cones scattered inside the faceoff circle. She would take turns shooting from each set, giving different shot angles at Kelley. The drill pushed both players to improve and win each rep, Sullivan said.

Kelley’s perspective from the net also helped Sullivan. Kelley learned to break down what opposing offenses were throwing at Saint Anselm, and relayed to Sullivan what she saw as the two worked together to fend off attacks, Sullivan said.

The two went through the same process watching film. Kelley and Sullivan each viewed tape from the perspective of their position, keying in on areas where they could both improve, Sullivan said.

“In practice, we would really go at it in front of the net because I would always try to screen her,” Sullivan said. “We were constantly pushing each other to be better.”

Kelley’s work throughout the season paid off. After the 2021-22 season, she held the program single-season records for most saves in a season (1,040), saves per game (34.67) and each of the top seven single-game save records.

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Kelley followed her record-setting performance up in her senior year, leading the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance in total saves (1,170).

After the 2022-23 season, Kelley entered the transfer portal again. Upon talking with head coach Britni Smith, Kelley said she knew SU was her desired destination.

Thus far with Syracuse, Kelley has thrived. In just her third game of her SU career, Kelley made 56 saves in a 2-1 loss to Merrimack. She also won back-to-back CHA goalie of the week awards in her first two weeks in the league.

“She sets the standard,” Smith said. “She’s someone we will look to and already have looked to to be a leader on this team.”

Published on October 29, 2023 at 11:32 pm

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky