In a decisive Game 5 of the AHL North Division semifinals, the Syracuse Crunch defeated the Rochester Americans 5-2, advancing to the North Division finals for the first time since 2018. The game saw multiple lead changes, with Syracuse initially pulling ahead 3-1 in the second period. Rochester narrowed the gap to 3-2, but Syracuse extended their lead again in the third period. Key players included Cole Koepke, who scored twice, and Felix Robert, who secured the victory with an empty-net goal. Merela, Carlile, and Robert also scored, with Alex Barré-Boulet assisting twice. This win marks the Crunch's first postseason series victory since 2018.
Syracuse men’s lacrosse playing Towson for shot at first NCAA Tournament win since 2017 (live score, updates) https://t.co/xCZSV1lO6C
Syracuse women’s lacrosse: Strong first half powers Orange to 15-10 win over Stony Brook https://t.co/yhT0iLnTMf via @NunesMagician
Syracuse women's lacrosse downs Stony Brook, 15-10, with Emma Tyrell responsible for a third of scoring (5 goals, 1 assist). Orange headed to another NCAA quarterfinal. Will play Yale, which beat Johns Hopkins today. https://t.co/Gz25KeDJmg
Stony Brook cut into SU's lead near the top of the second quarter, but in the final five minutes the Orange went on a 4-1 run to enter the locker room up 11-6. Emma Tyrell already at a hat trick and leading scoring for both teams. https://t.co/Gz25KeDJmg
Syracuse women's lacrosse playing some great offense – long, calm possessions, good ball movement – and is up 6-2 over Stony Brook at the end of the first quarter. Goals by Emma Tyrell (2), Olivia Adamson, Emma Ward, Natalie Smith and Emma Muchnick. https://t.co/Gz25KeDJmg
I'm on live updates for Syracuse women's lacrosse vs. Stony Brook in the NCAA Tournament second round. Follow along here: https://t.co/Gz25KeDJmg
Big Syracuse lacrosse day ahead. Women play Stony Brook at 2 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium in the NCAA Tourney second round after a first-round bye. Men play Towson at 7:30 p.m. at the Dome in the NCAA Tourney first round. First home tourney game since 2018.
Syracuse Crunch go to school in a do-or-die game to advance to the North Division finals, "There is no university of hockey; you can't sit on the bench and learn playoff hockey . . . what a great experience for everybody". #SyrCrunch #GoBolts #TBLightning https://t.co/owG7RbXEjw
“That one stings. ... Syracuse and us are teams that are capable of deep runs.” More on the #Rochester #Amerks' Game 5 loss to the Syracuse Crunch to end a tightly contested AHL North Division semifinal ... #Sabres https://t.co/BQ5deSKIf9
The @SyracuseCrunch knock off @AmerksHockey 5-2 and win their AHL Calder Cup Playoff Series 3-2. It's the first time the Crunch advance to the second-round since 2018 after three consecutive first-round defeats. Cole Koepke with 2 goals. Alex Barré-Boulet with 2 assists.
#SyrCrunch have defeated Rochester 5-2 in Game 5 to advance to the North Division finals, the first postseason series victory for #GoBolts AHL affiliate since 2018. Cole Koepke with a pair of goals tonight, Merela, Carlile and Robert also score
It'll be a 5-2 final in Rochester, the Crunch are moving on to the next round. A good year for the Amerks ends sooner than they were hoping for
Levi exits the net with 3:25 to go and seconds later the Crunch get the empty netter from Felix Robert. The Amerks season will come to an end tonight barring something completely insane.
Amerks pull Levi for the extra attacker with three and a half minutes to go.
Update from Rochester from Game 5, Crunch have their third two-goal lead of the game with under five minutes remaining in the third #GoBolts #TBLightning https://t.co/xxgriGtrhd
Huge goal from Cole Koepke to put the Crunch up 4-2 with 5:10 left in the third period of a win or go home Game 5. https://t.co/oHAp68pGl5
Barring a miracle, Rochester's season will end tonight. Another turnover gives Syracuse a 2-on-1, which the Crunch used to make it 4-2.
Ouch. Metsa fans on a good chance and Crunch goes down on a 2-on-1 and beats Levi on the one-timer with 5:10 left. It's 4-2 and #Amerks are now officially on borrowed time.
We're eight minutes into the third. #Amerks still trailing 3-2. Shots are just 1-1. Cuse has sucked the life out of this one. The neutral zone is a jungle. Basically no scoring chances.
Huge third period underway for the Crunch. https://t.co/LhjVvtZpoi
Here we go with Period 3 before a packed house in Rochester. #Amerks trailing 3-2. https://t.co/HFuMrODNtA
It's 3-2 Crunch after two periods. It was a better period for Rochester, for sure, but they're still down. Third period is going to be tight on both sides. Angst levels: High
After 40 minutes it's 3-2 Syr. Shots in the second were 8-7 Crunch.
End-2nd in a drawn-out affair: Cuse 3, #Amerks 2. Shots are 16-11 for the visitors (8-7 in 2nd). One period left to decide the series.
#Amerks make is 3-2 and vibes inside the building are good again. @LLysowski @ByMHarrington https://t.co/360B9uhDh4
Amerks answer again. Michael Mersch scores on the power play to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 9:27 left in the second period. Jiri Kulich with a great pass to set up Rochester's captain.
Bronx cheer from the crowd as #Amerks get a power play on slashing call on Syracuse.. Still 10:25 left in 2nd and down 3-1. Lots of time. PPG would obviously help
Rosen lost a puck battle high in the zone with Felix Robert and he took off on a 2-on-1 with Waltteri Merela and Merela finished it off to beat Levi to make it 3-1 Crunch
Robert stripped Rosen of the puck to lead a 2-on-1 setting up a layup goal from Merela, 3-1 Syr.
Syracuse makes it 3-1 with Goncalves' goal 8:35 into the second period. 2-on-1 began with a Rosen turnover. Kozak hustled on the backcheck to try to break up the pass but couldn't get there in time.
Merela scores on a 2-on-1. Rosen got schooled and Crunch got away. #Amerks trail 3-1 at 8:35 of the 2nd.
Davies got a tripping penalty. You hear a lot in hoops about a team "getting a bad whistle".... This is a hockey example. Stripes hitting #Amerks in a bad way in first 25 minutes of this one.