Box Score - Text Box - Game Sheet

Kristine Horn picked up an assist for the Wildcats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Freshman forward Arielle O'Neill (St. Catharines, Ontario) scored her first two collegiate goals, but the eighth-ranked University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team could not overcome a four-goal deficit in Friday night's 4-2 loss against Syracuse University at Tennity Ice Pavillion.

UNH, which edged Syracuse by a 2-1 score last October at the Whittemore Center, is now 1-1-0 this season. The Orange remain undefeated at 1-0-1.

SU quickly took a 1-0 lead when Stefanie Marty, with the assistance of Julie Rising and Megan Skelly, scored at 3:15 of the first period. The Orange took that one-goal lead and an 8-5 shot advantage into the first intermission.

Syracuse scored the only two goals of the second stanza to extend the advantage to 3-0. Ashley Cockell struck at 6:36 and Lisa Mullan scored at 18:27.

The Orange was whistled for penalties at 18:43 and 19:33 of the second period, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on the extended power-play opportunity that included a two-skater advantage for 70 seconds.

Skelly scored at 4:12 of the third period to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

O'Neill, who tallied an assist in her collegiate debut last Saturday, trimmed the deficit to three goals, 4-1, at 9:01. Kristina Lavoie (Fonthill, Ontario) was credited with an assist. UNH went on its ninth power play of the night with 2:35 remaining in regulation and O'Neill, with the assistance of Kristine Horn (Utica, Mich.) and Hannah Armstrong (Aurora, Ontario), netted a power-play goal at 18:23. The assist marked Armstrong's first career point.

UNH goaltender Kayley Herman (Weyburn, Saskatchewan) recorded 23 saves. SU counterpart Kallie Billadeau stopped 26 shots.

The Wildcats outshot their hosts 14-8 in the third period to finish with a 28-27 edge overall. The 'Cats were 1-for-9 on the power play and 6 of 6 on the penalty kill.

New Hampshire returns to action Oct. 9 (4 p.m.) at Colgate University. The Wildcats' first home game of the 2010-11 season is Oct. 22 (7 p.m.) against Clarkson University.