The Lindenwood women's hockey team (3-21-0, 3-7-0 CHA) earned a series split on Saturday afternoon, defeating Syracuse (8-16-1, 5-3-0 CHA) by a score of 6-3 from Centene Community Ice Center.

GAME OVERVIEW
After a slow start from both teams in the opening minutes of the first period, Lindenwood started to get pucks towards the net, compiling 16 shots on goal, while limiting Syracuse to just seven. The Lions had multiple odd-man rushes during the first 20 minutes, but the Syracuse netminder was sold. Lindenwood was able to breakthrough at the 2:09 mark, as Molly Henderson won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Meara Ryan fired the puck towards the net and it found its way in, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead, which they would take into the locker room. Rachel Goff also earned a helper on the score.

The Orange turned up the offensive pressure in the second period, but Julia Maguire was solid, making 15 saves in the middle frame. Syracuse was able to tie the game at the 9:01 mark of the middle frame, knotting the game 1-1 just before the halfway point.

The game continued tied until late in the period as Lindenwood scored three goals in less than two minutes. First Goff, who took multiple trips around the offensive zone before sending one past the Orange netminder to gibe the Lions a 2-1 lead at 17:18. Less than a minute later, Sydney Rarick sent a nice backhand pass up the boards and Morgan Neitzke did the rest, sliding one home, making the score 3-1. The Lions weren't done, as just 30 seconds later, Ryan found Neitzke across the ice and she wristed one home, growing the Lindenwood lead to 4-1. It was also assisted by Teagan Heaslip.

The Orange made a push to begin the third period, quickly making the score 4-2 at 3:43. Maguire helped settle down the pressure by making 15 saves in the final frame. Syracuse tried to claw back, but the Lions penalty kill came up huge late, killing off a five-on-three with less than six minutes to go as the score remained 4-2. After the two teams traded goals, which included Raricks first of the year, assisted by Neitzke and Sydney McAsh, Lindenwood looked to get Neitzke the hat trick and she got it. The sophomore forward found the empty-net as Rarick could've scored it, but gave it to her teammate..

This sealed a 6-3 win for the Lions. The hat trick by Neitzke was the first by a Lindenwood player since Jada Burke back in 2019.

GAME LEADERS
Neitzke (three goals, one assist, 11 SOG)
Goff (one goal, one assist, four shots)
Rarick (one goal, two assists)

UP NEXT
Lindenwood travels to University Park, Pa. for a two-game series with No. 12 Penn State, which begins on Friday, January 27 at 5:00 p.m. CT.