Syracuse’s ice hockey players have an internal award they call “hard-hat” and they give out to each other following each game. The hat is passed to the hardest working player on any given night.

Akane Hosoyamada had received the award after Friday night’s 2-1 win and decided to pass on the accolade to Heather Schwarz on Saturday.

“I had the hard-hat last night and I gave it to her today because of her hard work and effort. She drives the net and she’s a hard worker,” Hosoyamada said. “… I think she was just moving her feet, she worked hard, and got to loose pucks.”

Schwarz had one goal on three shots and one assist as Syracuse (8-13-9, 6-5-5 College Hockey America) beat Robert Morris (9-17-3, 6-8-2) 3-1 in Tennity Ice Pavilion. The goal marked the sophomore forward’s third of the season, matching her season total from last year.

“What I like aside from that she was Johnny on the spot to score that goal,” Flanagan said, “was that she had her feet moving.”

The game’s scoring started off as Schwartz picked up a rebound off a shot from Eleanor Haines, spun and let off a backhand shot. Forward Laurence Porlier was there for the second rebound and put the Orange ahead 1-0 six minutes into the second period.

Then with seven minutes gone in the third period, Stephanie Grossi skated down the left wing and shot from the left circle. After missing its target, the shot ricocheted for a long rebound down the middle of the ice and Emily Costales found the puck and tried to score. Again, the shot missed and Schwarz found the puck toward the right of the net and snuck it past Robert Morris’s goalie Jessica Dodds.

“It’s kind of like expected to be the best toward the end of the season,” Schwarz said, “but I just feel like these past few games I’ve had a different mindset and it’s shown on the ice.”

Schwarz had the chance to add to her total in the third period. From about five feet directly in front of the goal, she fired a shot that failed to find the back of the net.

Instead of giving up, she skated quickly toward the boards, stole the puck from the Robert Morris defender who had corralled the rebound, cut into the net and ripped off another shot that missed its mark.

Flanagan said that it’s been hard for Schwarz to get anything going without moving her feet and staying active on the ice. Her speed helped her separate from other skaters, he said.

The goals from Schwarz and the goal from Julie Knerr on Friday night have given Flanagan hope that he might see offensive production from players other than Melissa Piacentini, Alysha Burriss, Grossi and Jessica Sibley who account for 39 of the team’s 58 goals.

And with just four games remaining on the regular season schedule, Schwarz is developing as another offensive weapon.

“I thought she did a real good job tonight,” Flanagan said. “This was one of her better games for sure.”

Published on February 7, 2015 at 9:30 pm

Contact Liam: lpsull01@syr.edu