Syracuse sweeps URI men’s hockey

The University of Rhode Island men’s hockey team was swept by Syracuse University in the final home series of the fall semester.

On Friday, Syracuse scored late in the first period to take a 1-0 lead before Evan Rankin scored on a behind the net feed from senior captain Robbie Buehrer two minutes later to tie the game heading into the second. After very few shots on goal for both teams, Syracuse scored with 1:29 left in the second to take a 2-1 lead going into the third where Robbie Buehrer tied it at two a piece. Matt Kowash was called for an interference penalty halfway through the third and on that resulting power play Syracuse scored the game winning goal making the final score 3-2.  

URI looked to take the second game on Saturday afternoon but things did not go quite as planned. Just 39 seconds into the game Syracuse scored. Buehrer scored on a power play goal with nine minutes remaining in the first period to tie it at one. Not much later, Boudiette scored to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. Toward the end of the first period, Buehrer was injured on a play and needed help to the locker room.

“He has an ankle strain,” head coach Joe Augustine said. “He strained the ligament so he’s kind of day to day right now. We’re going to rest him in practice for a couple days and then hopefully have him by Friday night.”

Syracuse scored twice in the second to take a 3-2 lead heading into the final period. Neither team scored in the third leaving Syracuse to win 3-2.

“I think the guys have been playing really hard and our compete level the last three weeks has been really good,” said Augustine. “I know we don’t have a lot to show for it but I think the guys are giving it everything they have and it’s a matter of making some more breaks for yourself and winning those close games so we’re getting there. We still have a long way to go in the season and I think we’ll still be ok. So we’re just going to take one game at a time and keep plugging away at it.”

Freshman forward, Nate Bastian made his first start of the year bringing some fresh legs to the ice to try and get Rhode Island back on the winning side of things. Bastian would later be ejected in the second game of the series after receiving two game misconduct penalties.

“I thought he played well,” said Augustine. “I think he’s going to help us. He’s a competitor and I think that got him in trouble Saturday night. His fiery competitiveness got in the way a little bit but I thought he played well and he looks better everyday.”

URI will play their final two games of the semester this Friday and Saturday at Temple University.