The Syracuse ice hockey team had long wrapped up the regular-season crown in the Division I National Conference and just wanted to maintain positive momentum with the Section III playoffs looming.
And the state Division I no. 4-ranked Cougars did so – at least until last Wednesday night’s visit to Fulton. In the midst of a stretch of three games in four nights, Syracuse found itself shut down most of the way and, by the time it got going, it proved too late as it fell to the Red Raiders 4-2 for its first road loss of the season.
Neither team scored until the second period, when Fulton, who had already proven itself as one of the area’s most improved teams this winter, grabbed a 1-0 lead, inspired in a big way by the work of goaltender Spencer Evans, who maintained his shutout.
Syracuse finally got to Evans in the third period as Matt Eccles and Bryan O’Mara scored, with Philip Zollo, Colby Skrupa, Ryan Evanchak and Matt Frye earning one assist apiece.
But Fulton kept answering those goals, stayed out in front and held on as Evans worked his total to 32 saves, three more than Cougars counterpart Jake Polacek, while Austin Vashaw scored twice and single goals went to Rocco Cannata and Ryan Ross.
To start February, the state Division I no. 4-ranked Cougars hosted Rome Free Academy last Monday night at Meachem Rink, and it was rough for a while before a second-period outburst put Syracuse in control and it eventually cruised past the Black Knights 5-1.
Helped by Derrick Miller’s goal, RFA was even with the Cougars, 1-1, through one period. But quick adjustments on both ends allowed Syracuse to surge, not just by scoring three times in a decisive second period, but also in shutting down the Black Knights’ charges, Jake Polacek only having to make 15 saves.
Again, the attack was well-balanced, with only Skrupa scoring twice. Zollo added a goal and two assists, with Eccles earning one goal and one assist. Andrew Hodgens got the other goal as Polacek earned an assist on one of Syracuse’s goals, joining Frye, Evanchak, C.J. Walsh and Mike Pellizzari in that column.
Then, having stumbled at Fulton, it was back to Meachem just 24 hours later for a game against Watertown IHC. Both stunned and angry with that defeat to the Red Raiders, Syracuse answered in the best way possible, blasting the Cavaliers by an 8-1 margin.
It was decided in the first period, Syracuse roaring out to a 4-0 lead and then adding to that total the rest of the way as Zollo earned a three-goal hat trick. Colby Skrupa scored twice, adding a pair of assists, while Eccles had two goals and one assist.
Andrew Hodgens earned the other goal as Bryan O’Mara notched three assists, followed closely by Nathan Frye, with two assists, and Matt Frye and Conrad Skrupa, who had one assist apiece.
The Cougars, with a record of 16-2-1, ends its regular season Tuesday night, facing Fayetteville-Manlius at Cicero Twin Rinks.