The University of Rhode Island men’s hockey club swept a two-game set over the weekend against Syracuse University.
It was the Orange who started hot out of the gates on Friday, scoring two quick first-period goals from third-year defenseman Carter Ruggs and second-year forward Bradley Parker.
Rhode Island was able to answer back with a goal of their own from second-year Aidan Darlington.
As the second period got underway, URI quickly scored with a game-tying goal from second-year forward Jared Weisert.
Not long after that goal, Syracuse got itself into penalty trouble and Rhode Island capitalized. Aidan Darlington added his second goal of the game on the power play to give the Rams a 3-2 advantage.
Just a couple of minutes later, Darlington knocked in another one, giving him a hat trick midway through the second period and adding to his scorching-hot night.
Syracuse answered back late in the second on a power play goal from second-year defenseman Ryan Thomas to narrow the deficit to 4-3.
The third period was a defensive battle, as neither team could get anything across until URI put the game away on an empty netter from second-year Cam Cyr in the closing stages of the game to give the Rams a 5-3 win.
On Saturday, it was a bit of the same story. Syracuse came out of the gates red hot, striking twice to grab a 2-0 lead over Rhode Island. Fifth-year Henry Pendleton put one in the back of the net early on and Ruggs followed up with his second of the series.
Rhode Island once again showed that they are a strong team when they can get some momentum going, as fifth-year defenseman Tim Crane caught a puck in front of the net and put it home to put the Rams on the board.
“We came out a little flat,” Crane said. “Once we got one, we just went back and forth, and that was like the theme of the weekend.”
That’s exactly what Rhode Island did, as the Rams tied the game up later in the first with a goal from third-year forward Max Lockwood to put things at 2-2.
Rhode Island was finding ways to capitalize on their opportunities. Early in the second, the Rams grabbed the lead right back on a score from second-year forward Ryan Barlow to give them a 3-2 advantage
The defense and goaltending stepped up big time for the Rams, as they shut out Syracuse in the final two periods. Rhode Island took home the 3-2 win on Saturday, winning both games in comeback fashion.
“I’ve been very happy with our goaltending,” URI head coach Joe Augustine said. “We shouldn’t be giving up 38 shots, and we have a lot to clean up on, but we will take the win and move on to next week.”
Rhode Island will remain home for a big test next week when the Rams take on Drexel University on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
