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Last weekend, Syracuse narrowly scraped by Vermont, 17-13, as Drake Porter made a career-high 20 saves. This weekend, the Orange take on another America East Conference opponent with a game against Stony Brook. Syracuse looks to extend a two-game win streak that began with a dominant win over then-No. 2 Virginia.

Stony Brook comes to the Carrier Dome for the first time ever following two straight losses to No. 18 Hofstra and unranked UMBC.

Here’s what The Daily Orange beat writers predict will happen when the Orange take on the Seawolves on Friday:

Roshan Fernandez (1-2)
Too close for comfort
Syracuse 16, Stony Brook 13

Syracuse’s game against unranked Vermont on Saturday was much closer than it should’ve been. The Catamounts were SU’s most favorable matchup of the season, and probably of the last few seasons. Yet the same Syracuse team that had just upset No. 2 UVA struggled, needing a career-high 20 saves from Porter to escape the Dome with a victory.

The Orange have been up and down this season so far. They’ve been convincing, then they’ve undone it, and vice-versa. SU conceded a three-goal run against Vermont late in the third quarter that seemed concerning, but ultimately pulled away when the time came. I think SU does the same against Stony Brook, another team it should beat fairly easily. I’ll take the Orange, but this game will be closer than it should.

Allie Kaylor (1-2)
Close one
Syracuse 18, Stony Brook 16

Through three games, I still don’t know what to think of this Syracuse team. A total collapse in the first game, a complete blowout of the No. 2 team in the country in the next and a game last week that was much closer than it should have been. This game against Stony Brook could be another 20-10 victory, but it could also be a close loss. Deciding which Syracuse team is going to show up next week is basically a coin flip.

I think Syracuse has what it takes to beat out Stony Brook, though. It won’t implode like it did against Army, but it probably won’t dominate like it did against Virginia. Against a team that has been ranked on and off all season, Syracuse will pull out an acceptable win. The Orange have had a couple of weeks to settle in and make adjustments. Their biggest issue last week was losing 70% of faceoffs, and Stony Brook has a 45.7% faceoff percentage through four games. Win the faceoffs, keep a steady offense, and at least try to stop the Seawolves from clearing, and Syracuse can pull this one off in a close one.

Arabdho Majumder (2-1)
Face/Off
Syracuse 18, Stony Brook 11

Expect a big bounce-back game from Jakob Phaup as he takes on a Stony Brook squad that’s won just 45.7% of its faceoffs this season. Controlling the ball through winning draws will temper Stony Brook’s offensive weapons, and at the efficiency that Syracuse scored last week, it should help SU pull out a lead. The main reason Vermont stayed close throughout last Saturday’s game was because the 24-of-34 faceoffs it won. The Orange won’t let that happen against a second straight America East opponent. And even with Syracuse’s at-times shaky defense, it has enough firepower at the other end to make do.

Published on March 10, 2021 at 10:37 pm