Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder sees the imaginative and prescient.
This isn’t the identical New York group that took the ice within the PWHL’s inaugural season final 12 months. It’s higher, extra in sync, extra environment friendly.
Positive, there’s lots to be cleaned up. However the potential is there, Schroeder mentioned Sunday after the Sirens’ 1-0 extra time win towards the Toronto Sceptres at Prudential Heart.
“We’ve proven that we’re pretty gritty and we can fight back and stay in it,” Schroeder mentioned.
9 video games into the season, coach Greg Fargo has seen stretches through which New York (3-2-1-3) has performed very well and others through which it stumbled. Sunday was a chief instance.
The Sirens have had points with gradual begins this season. However on Sunday, New York outshot Toronto 10-3 within the first interval.
The offensive momentum stalled for the Sirens from there, and defensive miscues opened alternatives for the Sceptres, who outshot the house group 24-8 over the ultimate two durations.
The Sirens stayed within the sport as a result of Schroeder stopped any of Toronto’s makes an attempt from leaking by way of.
Ultimately, although, the Sirens capitalized when it mattered most. High decide Sarah Fillier despatched the puck up the ice for Jessie Eldridge to chase down. Eldridge angled the puck into the online for the game-winning aim in extra time.
“There’s gonna be ebbs and flows to any game at this level,” Fargo mentioned. “But I really liked how we started tonight. I really liked how we responded in the third about halfway through. I thought we started to take some of that ice back and that’s all part of learning and growing and finding ways to learn how to win at this level.”
Schroeder stopped 28 pictures for her second consecutive shutout.
In Fargo’s eyes, there’s no debate as to who’s the Sirens’ prime netminder.
“Shroeds has been our No. 1 goalie for a long time within the organization,” he mentioned. “She’s been demonstrating the level of her play since day one, but in particular, there’s a calmness to her game, there’s a competitiveness to her game that we really like right now.”
With Sunday’s extra time win, the Sirens stay tied for fourth within the league standings with 14 factors.
There’s loads of season left. With six groups competing for 4 playoff spots, the margin of error is slim. Solely 4 factors separate the first-place Montreal Victoire and fifth-place Boston Fleet.
The Sirens completed final within the standings in 2024, which resulted in sweeping modifications this offseason. They employed Fargo and made Prudential Heart their everlasting dwelling after taking part in at three totally different arenas final season.
New York additionally drafted former Princeton star Fillier with the highest general decide and chosen extra depth gamers with its different six picks, together with Maja Nylen Persson and Elle Hartje.
The retooled roster and new system applied by Fargo has resulted in New York wanting like a a lot stronger group than a 12 months in the past.
Simply ask the PWHL’s reigning Coach of the Yr, Troy Ryan.
“They look a little more solid than they did at times last year,” the Toronto coach mentioned. “The league is so tight on any given night that any team can beat any other team and I think New York has had a relatively good start.”
The Sirens host the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday earlier than heading out on a three-game highway journey.
The inspiration to be a playoff group is there.
“If we keep doing the right things and we start becoming a little more connected for a full 60 minutes,” Schroeder mentioned, “our games are going to be pretty exciting to watch in the future.”
“We’re still trying to find that consistency in our game I would say and put it together period-to-period, game-to-game, but I think that’s to come,” Fargo mentioned. “There’s a lot of belief in our room with the people there and what we’re doing, and I just think we’re looking to find more consistency with it. … We’re a work in progress, and we’re going to be. But we’ve got our eyes forward and we’re looking to continue to grow and make sure that we’re playing our best hockey down the stretch and at the most important time of the year.”
