NEWARK, D.E. — Syracuse Men's Hockey (4-5-1) hit the road for a two-game conference series against the Delaware Blue Hens (2-5-1). The Orange secured their first sweep of the season, earning a 3-2 shootout victory Friday before an explosive offensive performance led to an 8-4 win Saturday.

On Friday night, Syracuse controlled play early in the opening period, recording three shots in the first two minutes of the contest.

Three Syracuse penalties slowed the Orange's attack. However, Syracuse's defense held firm while shorthanded, keeping the Blue Hens off the scoreboard.

The Orange regained control as the period progressed, continuing to pressure Delaware's defense and generating additional scoring chances. Despite outshooting Delaware 13-9, Syracuse entered the first intermission in a scoreless tie.

The Blue Hens threatened early in the second period, but the Orange escaped without allowing a goal. Delaware's Leighton Biesiadecki was awarded a penalty shot but Sophmore goaltender Cash Lawrence just caught a piece of the Delaware forward's shot before it rang off the post. 

Lawrence continued to keep Delaware off the scoreboard midway through the period, turning aside another breakaway to keep Delaware off the scoreboard.

Syracuse sustained pressure late in the second period, and senior forward Kade Cook broke the scoreless bout with 1:24 remaining. The captain's first goal of the season gave the Orange a 1-0 lead.

Just 20 seconds later, sophomore forward Matthew McEnroe tipped in Ryan Thomas's shot to extend Syracuse's lead to 2-0.

Syracuse outshot Delaware 14-7 in the second period and took a two-goal lead into the third.

Delaware responded in the opening minute of the third period as the Blue Hens scored on the power play to cut Syracuse's lead to 2-1.

The Orange struggled to slow down Delaware's attack as the period continued, and the Blue Hens eventually found the equalizer to tie the game at two.

Syracuse regrouped and generated quality opportunities late in regulation but couldn't find the go-ahead goal, sending the game to overtime tied at 2.

"If we played our game, we knew we could still come away with some points," said Syracuse Head Coach Chris Timmons. "Confidence in our game and what we need to do helps keep us dialed for any situation." 

Syracuse began the extra period on a power play and quickly offered two quality shots, but neither found the back of the net. Both teams continued to create chances in sudden-death overtime, yet neither could break the tie, forcing a shootout.
Freshman forward Aidan Wilson and junior defenseman Ryan Thomas scored in the shootout, securing Syracuse's 3-2 victory after Delaware's third-period comeback.

"It was awesome to be able to see that one go in," Thomas said of his shootout winner. "We know how important these games are and we try to secure as many wins and points as possible."

After its shootout win on Friday, Syracuse looked to continue its momentum and earn its first sweep of the season in Game Two. 

However, Delaware didn't make it easy for the Orange in the first. Syracuse recorded three shots in the first five minutes and held Delaware shotless through six. The Blue Hens then found their game, outshooting the Orange 6-1 over the next four minutes.

Delaware capitalized on Syracuse's struggles to clear their defensive zone, intercepting an outlet pass at center ice. Left unmarked as he drove to the net, Blue Hens forward Michael Spinelli beat Lawrence with a backhand to open the scoring.

Syracuse regained offensive control in the second half of the frame, recording six shots to outshoot the Blue Hens 10-6 in the first. Syracuse continued to pressure Delaware's defense, eventually creating an opportunity to even the score. 

Cook capitalized on a misplayed puck in Delaware's zone, collecting it in the slot and firing over goaltender Justin Bayers' shoulder to tie the game at one before the first intermission.

Syracuse carried its momentum into the second period. Just over a minute in, Wilson carried the puck from the blue line on a two-on-two rush and fired a shot from the left circle past Bayers to give the Orange a 2-1 lead. The Orange didn't look back.

Less than a minute later, freshman forward Jacob Roberts carried the puck down the right wing and passed across the crease to freshman Peter Wienckowski, who scored at the left post for his first collegiate goal giving Syracuse a 3-1 lead.

"It was a really special moment for me, and after scoring I definitely felt a lot more confident and comfortable out there," Wienckowski said. "It motivated me to keep pushing for the team however I could." 

The scoring frenzy didn't end there. Eighteen seconds after Wienckowski's tally, Delaware forward Mason Moore streaked down the right wing and fired a shot on net. Similar to the Blue Hen's first mark, forward Kade Cochlan was left unattended in front as he deflected the shot past Lawrence to bring the score within one. 

Both teams continued to test the opposing goaltender after the three-goal flurry, but neither scored for the next seven minutes.

Delaware couldn't capitalize on its only power play of the game, and Syracuse answered.

Freshman defenseman Chris Paolone found the puck in the slot after a blocked shot. Paolone tested Bayers, and while Bayers deflected the puck up, he didn't get it out of danger. Sophomore forward Bradley Parker batted the puck into the net to restore SU's two-goal lead. 

Cochlan cut Delaware's deficit to one once again after forward Thomas Tracy intercepted a Syracuse pass to create a two-on-none breakaway. Tracy fed Cochlan, who buried the chance to make it 4-3.

Delaware pushed for the equalizer, generating a two-on-one late in the period, but Lawrence made the save to preserve Syracuse's lead.

The Orange showed no signs of settling for a one-goal lead entering the third period.

Syracuse maintained pressure in the offensive zone, with sophomore forward Ben Brant nearly scoring on a wraparound. The Orange's best chances to extend their lead, however, came on the power play.

Roberts scored off a feed from Cook on Syracuse's first power play of the night to extend the lead to 5-3. Two minutes later, Delaware took another penalty while trying to stop an Orange breakaway. Sophomore forward Christopher Fanning capitalized during a scramble, sliding the puck past Bayers to make it 6-3.

"Staying hungry and committed to our game allowed us to keep them hemmed in and draw a larger lead," Coach Timmons said. 

Delaware took its third penalty of the period as Syracuse continued to apply pressure.

As time ticked away, Spinelli scored to keep the Blue Hens' comeback hopes alive, but junior forward Tanner Cole buried an empty-net goal to put Syracuse ahead 7-4.

Delaware took its fourth penalty of the period, and Thomas capitalized with Syracuse's third power-play goal, becoming the Orange's eighth different goal scorer of the game and sealing the 8-4 win and series sweep.

Syracuse has not scored 8 or more goals in a single game against an M1 opponent since the 2024-25 ESCHL Playoff Tournament when they beat Stony Brook University 9-5 in early March of 2025.

"The team felt great and they deserve to," Timmons said. "They played a complete game on Saturday and to get a win in regulation was a nice cap to the weekend."  

"Everyone is having more fun when we're playing well and winning this weekend definitely felt that way," Thomas said. 

Syracuse will have a home-and-home matchup next weekend against Oswego. Game One is on Thursday night at 8pm in Oswego, NY. The series will conclude the following evening for Game Two on Friday at 8pm back at Tennity Ice Pavillion. 

All home games are held at the Tennity Ice Pavilion on Syracuse University's campus and are free for students and the general public. Home games are also streamed live on the SU Hockey Network.