SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the tight NCAA women’s hockey standings will meet Friday night when the Syracuse Orange host the RIT Tigers at the Carrier Dome.

The matchup features near-identical records, with RIT at 14-15-0 and Syracuse at 13-14-3 overall. Both squads are looking to build momentum for the final stretch of the season.

The season series is split 1-1. Syracuse earned a 5-2 road win on Oct. 24, 2025, before RIT responded with a 4-1 victory at Syracuse the following day. Friday’s contest is the first of a home-and-home set, with a rematch scheduled for Saturday in Rochester.

A key matchup will feature RIT’s offensive catalyst against Syracuse’s stalwart in net. Tigers forward Zoe Ziotas scored a goal in RIT’s most recent outing, a 5-1 loss at Lindenwood on Jan. 31, and had a goal and an assist in an 8-1 win at Delaware on Jan. 9. She will be tasked with solving Orange goaltender Ava Drabyk.

Drabyk has been a workhorse for Syracuse, starting their last six games. She posted consecutive shutouts against Robert Morris on Jan. 9-10, making 19 saves in each game, and stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 win over Lindenwood on Jan. 23. In her last start, a 4-0 loss to Lindenwood on Jan. 24, she made 30 saves.

Both teams are seeking consistency after recent struggles. The Tigers have lost three straight, including two at Lindenwood last weekend. Syracuse has dropped two of its last three, scoring only two total goals in those defeats.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Syracuse 4, RIT 3.

Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST Friday at the Carrier Dome. The teams will conclude their weekend series Saturday at RIT’s Gene Polisseni Center.