Minnesota Duluth sweeps Syracuse with back-to-back shutouts

Minnesota Duluth finished off Syracuse Friday, sweeping the weekend with another 4-0 victory.

It was a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes as Minnesota Duluth controlled the beginning of the first period, but could not notch a goal despite multiple chances. 

In the final 10 minutes, Syracuse found its pace on the ice, but was unable to capitalize on power play chances, solidifying a scoreless streak. At the end of the first period, the score was still 0-0 despite Duluth leading Syracuse 13-4 in shots and having control on offense. 

Freshman goaltender Ava Drabyk got the call the night before that she would start in her first career NCAA game. Her consistency and effort earned her the start and praise from Syracuse associate head coach Heather Farrell.

“She’s battling, competing, and it’s good to get a first-year some time against the best to see where she is right now. She did a wonderful job this weekend,” Farrell said.

Drabyk saved 44 of the 48 shots she faced in her debut with the Orange. It was a tight battle up and down the ice during the first 15 minutes of the period.

That was until Zoey Krock worked her way down the near-side half wall, surveying her options and finding teammate Molly Cole in the slot, who then put it glove side past Drabyk to open the scoring 1-0.    

The Orange committed two penalties during the period but ultimately held on through the rest of the second, not allowing the Bulldogs to find a rhythm heading into the final period of play.   

Going into the third, the Orange were down 1-0 against the Bulldogs and looked to break through in their opening weekend matchup. They would have the chance to spark something offensively as Bulldog Josie St. Martin committed a cross-checking penalty early into the final period of play. The Orange would generate good scoring chances during their third power play of the game but could not capitalize on the chances presented in front of them.   

Syracuse would then get a fourth chance on the power play, as Minnesota Duluth took another penalty, giving the Orange a chance late in the game.   

The Bulldogs’ penalty kill would prevail once more, shutting down the Syracuse power play for the 10th time over the weekend.   

“For our first weekend of games, we had a lot of different combinations going. We were extremely pleased with how our team performed this weekend. We’ve got to continue practicing,” Farrell said.   

She said the penalty kill held its own in tonight’s matchup, going three for three on the special teams’ end.   

Shortly after the failed power play for Syracuse, Caitlin Kraemer would slice through the Orange defense for a highlight-reel goal to give Duluth its insurance goal, going up 2-0.   

Thea Johansson extended Duluth’s lead to 3-0 with her third goal of the season and second of the weekend against Syracuse. She then quickly struck again, finding a loose puck and burying it in the back of the net for her fourth of the season to seal the 4-0 victory.   

After a 33-shot performance against the Bulldogs, the Orange would fail to come close to that total, tallying 20 fewer shots on goal in the 4-0 loss.  

Minnesota Duluth goalie Ève Gascon would not only record a shutout in tonight’s win, but she would cap off her excellent weekend with back-to-back shutouts.  

With her 13th career shutout, the junior goaltender moved into a tie for fifth all-time in UMD history. 

“This was a good test for us,” Farrell said. “It was terrific to start against a team that is the best right now. They’re a perfect team top to bottom. They’re well-coached, they’ve got a good goalie, they’ve got people who can score, they battle and they’re tough.” 

Her takeaway from the six periods played over the weekend was that the coaching staff was proud of the way their players grinded, never letting up and working all over the ice.

Syracuse is still searching for its first win of the season and will have a chance to get it this weekend on the road against Stonehill.