As Melissa Piacentini goes, Syracuse goes.

And when SU needed her most Saturday afternoon, she delivered.

“If we have a consistent performer, it’s her,” Flanagan said. “… She’s invaluable. If she were ever to take a night off, we would really struggle offensively.”

Syracuse (9-13-10, 7-5-6) beat Lindenwood (9-18-2, 6-10-2) 3-1 on Saturday at Tennity Ice Pavilion, driven by Piacentini’s play. She led the team with 10 shots and a goal scored — her third in two games — a day after breaking SU’s all-time scoring record.

“It’s always nice to know that our team is scoring goals,” said goalie Jenn Gilligan. “She’s a great player and she played great tonight.”

Piacentini had two shots on net in the first period, but both were stopped by goaltender Nicole Hensley. The first came on a two-on-two as her and Stephanie Grossi broke toward the net, with an additional two defenders closely trailing. Piacentini rushed a shot that the Lindenwood defender blocked with her stick.

Her second chance in the first period came as she wrapped around the net going from Hensley’s right to her left. She had a small opening, but Hensley closed it quickly bringing her stick around just in time to poke it away.

But following a Lindenwood power play, Akane Hosoyamada took a slap shot from the blue line and Piacentini put the rebound back out of the air to even the contest at 1-1 just five minutes into the second period.

“I just got lucky,” Piacentini said. “I saw it go up off her pad. I knew I just had to tip it in and it was going to go in.”

The rest of the period consisted of back and forth play between SU and the Lions, but Piacentini recorded four other shots in the second, leading the team.

Piacentini also performed well on her crosschecks and her chasing down of loose pucks. She won loose pucks from a few scrums along the boards, aggressively battling with Lindenwood players.

Early in the third period, Piacentini shot the puck high above the net from in close. Instead of skating back or finding a Lindenwood player to mark, she tracked down her own miss. She fought off two Lindenwood defenders behind the net, winning the puck.

She then swept around the back of the net and shot again. After a few additional rebounds, Emily Costales scored to bring Syracuse’s lead to 3-1.

“(Piacentini) was behind the net and I was in front of the net trying to keep the girl away from the puck,” Costales said. “She made a great play and I just finished it.”

Later in the final period, she helped preserve SU’s lead by swiping away a puck in the front of Gilligan. She then streaked up the right side of the boards and into the offensive zone, neutralizing a Lindenwood opportunity.

All season, she’s been the offensive catalyst for a team that’s gotten its opportunities, but often failed to convert. Now, the Orange has won three of its past four games, and she’s been one of the reasons for SU’s success.

“Even when she isn’t involved in a play with the shots or assists, she’s doing a lot behind the play too,” Flanagan said. “You got to love her. Not very big, but she plays with big heart, determination and skill.”

Published on February 14, 2015 at 6:22 pm

Contact Liam: lpsull01@syr.edu