Emmy’s inspiration guides Syracuse to momentum-shifting win over RIT

Syracuse women’s ice hockey entered its matchup against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) looking for a momentum shift following a 2-1 loss in its last game in Rochester.

The energy at Tennity Ice Pavilion, however, revolved around Emmy, a five-year-old kindergartener diagnosed with spina bifida and CASK genetic disorder. Emmy is this season’s team impact player for the Orange, and she was the heart of the evening. During warmups, she joined the team on the bench, shared fist bumps with the players, and led the starting lineup alongside team captain Tatum White. She was surrounded by her family, classmates holding handmade signs, and fans, including Otto the Orange.

Syracuse came out strong in the first period. Junior defenseman Heidi Knoll got the Orange on the board first with the night’s opening goal; her first of the season. Knoll credited Emmy for inspiring her performance.

“She scored that first goal. She touched my stick before the game, and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without her,” Knoll said.

Junior defenseman Sami Gendron scored her first goal of the season on a breakaway, assisted by Brynn Saarela, extending the lead to 2-0. The game carried extra significance for Gendron and the whole team.

“I think it was a great game. We all play for something bigger than just the team. We played for Emmy. So, I think we showed how much we care for her,” Gendron said.

The entire bench was happy to see their two teammates tally their first goals of the season. Head Coach Britni Smith emphasized the importance of team culture and the electric atmosphere on the bench.

“I think you can see it on our bench. Everyone was extremely excited when those two put it in,” Smith said.

Emmy’s magic continued into the second period, as she and her classmates greeted the players with high-fives as they returned to the ice. RIT turned up the pressure, outshooting Syracuse 25-18 in the period. Graduate goaltender Allie Kelley stood tall with a series of saves, shutting out the Tigers in back-to-back periods. Late in the period, Syracuse capitalized shortly after a power play, with graduate defenseman Charli Kettyle finding the back of the net, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Heading into the third period, the focus was on maintaining intensity.

“It was just the next 20, you know. It’s easy to get up by two and think you’re in the driver’s seat, but you can’t take your foot off the gas at all,” Smith said.

RIT mounted a comeback in the third period, cutting the deficit with a power-play goal from freshman defenseman Emma Pickering after Syracuse committed its only penalty. Senior defenseman Kyla Bear followed with a second goal, narrowing the score to 3-2. Syracuse challenged the goal for possible interference but ultimately lost the review.

Despite the pressure, the Orange regrouped.

“We had a timeout right after because of the challenge, and honestly, we just calmed down, and we got to talk and sort it out, and we just knew we had to fight back,” Knoll said.

The Orange’s penalty kill unit and Kelley’s steady goaltending preserved the lead. A late penalty on RIT gave Syracuse a final power-play opportunity to seal the game, but the score remained unchanged as Syracuse secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

This win marked a crucial moment for Syracuse, delivering a confidence boost heading into its upcoming series against Lindenwood, senior weekend, and the last home games before the playoffs.

“It’s starting to be playoff hockey, so it’s a good momentum going into that time of the year. It was a hard couple of games, but we finally found our groove. It’s exciting,” Gendron said.

While the scoreboard showed a win for the Orange, the game wasn’t just for Coach Smith.

“I definitely think the highlight though is just the fact that we could do it in front of our biggest fan and their family,” Smith said.