ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Interstat) — A tightly contested season series will see its rubber match Saturday when the RIT Tigers host the Syracuse Orange in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game at the Gene Polisseni Center.

The teams have split their two meetings this month, setting the stage for a decisive third encounter. Syracuse (14-16-4) earned a 3-2 home win on Feb. 6, but RIT (16-17-1) responded with a 4-2 victory on its home ice the following day.

Interstat’s game simulator projects another close, high-scoring affair, predicting a 4-3 win for the home Tigers.

Both teams are looking to rebound from road losses on Feb. 14. Syracuse was routed 7-0 at Mercyhurst, while RIT fell 4-2 at Penn State despite a two-goal performance from standout forward Ireland Stein.

Stein has been a consistent offensive force for RIT. In the teams’ most recent matchup on Feb. 7, she scored one of the Tigers’ four goals. She enters Saturday on a hot streak, having scored goals in three of her last four games, including a pair in the loss to Penn State.

For Syracuse, defender Jessica Cheung is a player to watch. She was a rare bright spot in the lopsided loss to Mercyhurst, leading the Orange with five shots on goal. Cheung also contributed a goal in Syracuse’s 3-2 win over RIT earlier this month.

In net, Syracuse’s Bella Gould made 16 saves on 18 shots in relief duty against Mercyhurst. RIT is expected to start Brenna McNamara, who made 35 saves in the loss to Penn State.

The Tigers hold a slight edge in the overall season record, but the recent head-to-head results indicate little separates these rivals. With playoff positioning likely at stake, Saturday’s contest promises to be a physical, competitive chapter in the regional rivalry. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m.