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In each of its four matchups with Robert Morris in 2024-25, Syracuse dominated the Colonials in almost every facet of the game, outscoring its opponent 17-4.

The common denominator between each result for SU? Finding success in the faceoff dot. Each of the four times SU and RMU met in the regular season, the Orange skated away with the advantage on draws or lost the battle by only less than 10%.

The consistent success was especially evident in the two sides’ final regular season meeting when SU’s faceoff unit was lights out en route to Syracuse’s 5-1 road victory. The group finished with a 33-for-51 (65%) clip that afternoon, setting a new season-high in the category.

But in its fifth and final matchup with the Colonials Saturday, the unit was given a rude awakening.

Despite its thrilling 3-2 double-overtime victory over No. 6-seeded Robert Morris (8-24-3, 2-16-2 Atlantic Hockey America) in the AHA Quarterfinals, No. 3-seeded Syracuse (14-21-0, 11-9-0 Atlantic Hockey America) struggled mightily in the faceoff dot throughout much of the contest. Led by Tatum White, the unit finished the day with an abysmal 27-for-67 mark in the circle for one of its worst days on the draw this season.

Throughout most of her time at SU, White has been tasked with taking the majority of faceoffs. But with the amount of turnover Syracuse’s roster faced entering 2024-25, that role has been especially amplified this season.

Before Saturday’s game, White had taken a career-high 797 total draws. She continued to take on a heavy workload in the first period against RMU, gliding into the circle for 11-of-15 faceoffs in the frame.

“She’s someone who takes a ton of faceoffs for us in all situations and is often above 50%,” SU head coach Britni Smith said of White. “We can really rely on her to get the puck in our hands off a faceoff.”

Despite her coach’s confidence in her faceoff ability, White and the rest of Syracuse’s unit mustered a win in just 8-of-15 opportunities throughout the opening frame.

Past the midway point in the period, the Colonials momentarily took full control in the circle as Janelle Evans, Jersey Phillips and Catriona Crarer strung together three wins in a row. The success gave RMU nearly three straight minutes of puck possession, which was elongated further by a tripping penalty on SU’s Peyton Armstrong.

Despite coming off a mediocre first period in the circle, Heidi Knoll pushed the Orange on the scoreboard 1-0 just 1:29 into the second. But from that point on, SU’s offensive success was short-lived as it continued to come up short on the dot for the next 40 minutes of play.

Going just 6-for-17 in the second period, it seemed as though Syracuse’s duo of White and Nea Tervonen had no answers for the Colonials’ trio of Evans, Phillips and Crarer. Although adjustments were clearly needed, White said that there was nothing wrong with the way her unit was taking draws and held firm to her usual faceoff philosophy.

“We made it a focus to get everyone involved (on faceoffs), because it’s not just a center that wins draws, it’s everybody,” White said. “It’s about just having our wingers and our (defense) jump in. Obviously, it’s also about me taking accountability for bearing down on the dot.”

Luckily for Syracuse, there’s a reason its goalie, Allie, Kelley holds the NCAA all-time career saves record. Racking up 12 saves in the middle frame, she covered for her team’s shortcomings on the draw and preserved its slim lead going into the third, but it didn’t last long after that point.

Trapped in its own zone just 1:07 into play, Tervonen swiped the puck away from Phillips to give SU possession of the puck to the right of Kelley.

But in some cases, even when SU’s draw unit won, it still ultimately lost.

After dumping the puck into the Colonials’ zone, the Orange went for a full-sail change while RMU reset from its own end of the ice. With little resistance, Mya Neugent knifed through the middle and whipped a spinning shot toward Kelley that glanced off Phillips’ stick and into the net.

With just under nine minutes left in regulation, White and Co. again found themselves in a winless drought in the circle. Spearheaded by Phillips’ three consecutive draw wins, the Colonials again punished the Orange as Morgan Giannone eventually found the back of the net to give RMU its first lead of the game.

Despite winning only 7-of-21 draws in the final 20 minutes of regulation, Bryn Saarela willed the Orange to overtime with less than five minutes remaining.

While Syracuse’s tough day in the circle limited its offense to its lowest-scoring performance against RMU this season, three goals turned out to be just enough for the Orange to punch a ticket to the AHA Semifinals.

Despite her team’s lackluster performance on draws Saturday, Smith said her group was unaffected by the lack of success in the area. Even though she has little concern, it’s a matter that needs to be attended to.

“I don’t know what the final stats were to be honest for faceoffs, but I don’t think it was anything that we were concerned about in-game,” Smith said postgame. “But it continues to be a focus of ours, especially on opening faceoffs.”

Published on February 22, 2025 at 9:24 pm

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu | @ma77hew_gray