ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT women's hockey team (8-10-4, 4-4-0 CHA) raced out a 4-0 first period lead and won its third straight game with a 4-2 victory over Syracuse University (4-16-1, 4-4-0 CHA) in College Hockey America action from the Gene Polisseni Center Friday evening.

Shots were 40-36 in favor of Syracuse. The Tigers went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Orange went 2-for-3. Jordan Marchese (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Canadettes) led RIT with a goal and an assist for her second straight multiple-point game, while Kathryn Kennedy (Hamilton, Ontario/) set a career-high with two assists. Jade Mancini (Burlington, Ontario/Bishop Tonnos), Hunter Barnett (Caledon, Ontario/Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) and Kendall Cornine (Kinnelon, NJ/Morristown Beard) each scored a goal, while Terra Lanteigne (Hatchet Lake, Nova Scotia/Charles P. Allen) picked up her eighth win of the season in net for the Tigers, making 38 saves.

Abby Moloughney and Brooke Avery each scored for the Orange. Allison Small got the start in net, making 13 saves on 17 shots in the first period. Maddi Welch played the final 40 minutes, making 19 saves.

The Tigers struck first, taking a 1-0 lead on Mancini's second goal of the season at 4:21 of the first period on an assist from Abby Davies (Ashton, Ontario/Ottawa Lady Senators). Barnett made it 2-0 Tigers with her power play goal at 9:37 on shot from the seat of her pants in front. Cornine made it 3-0 RIT with her goal at 10:26, and Jordan Marchese (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Canadettes) gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead on her goal with 2:08 remaining in the opening period.

"I really liked our start today," said RIT head coach Chad Davis. "We are starting to get it going a little bit. We are playing hard and competing on every shift."

Syracuse got on the board midway through the second period when Moloughney tallied on the power play at 10:16. Emma Polaski and Jessica Digirolamo had the assists on the play. Avery cut the lead to 4-2 on her goal at 9:04 of the third to make it 4-2. Lanteigne was solid in net in the third, making 13 saves, including several from close range down the stretch.

"We knew it would be tough even after a good start," said Davis. "We knew in a game like this that Syracuse would battle back."

With the win, RIT moves into a tie for third place in the CHA standings with Syracuse.
 
Syracuse leads the all-time series between the two schools, 19-9-2. RIT won the first meeting on Nov. 16, scoring four times in a span of 7:34 late in the third period to defeat the Orange, 6-4. Logan Land (Turkey Point, Ontario/Holy Trinity Catholic) scored two goals, while Lanteigne made 38 saves. RIT and Syracuse will also play a home-and home series on Feb. 15-16.

RIT returns to action on Friday, January 18 when the Tigers host Mercyhurst University at 6 p.m. at the Gene Polisseni Center.