Jenn Gilligan remembered playing against Kendall Coyne during her time at the University of New Hampshire. So when Gilligan saw Coyne — who plays on the United States women’s national hockey team — skating down the right side of the ice, she knew Coyne’s teammate would feed her the puck.

Gilligan slid to the right side of the crease and saved the one-time shot taken from just a few feet away, sending the puck into the corner.

“I knew that pass was coming,” Gilligan said. “I saw it happen before it did.”

When Syracuse needed it, Gilligan came up strong. She made 28 saves and only let in one goal as SU (1-1-1) tied Northeastern (0-0-1), 1-1, at Tennity Ice Pavilion on Friday night. Northeastern created odd-man rush opportunities, but Gilligan played aggressively and controlled rebounds to keep the damage to only one goal.

Northeastern started out slow, only putting four shots on net in the first period, but managed 16 in the second.

Midway through the second, Hayley Scamurra got free in front of SU’s net and took a backhand shot that Gilligan knocked harmlessly away. On the penalty kill, she directed away a one-time slap shot from the point.

“Gilli made some big saves,” SU head coach Paul Flanagan said. “I thought in the second period she made two or three real big saves. They weren’t flashy saves or fabulous. They were just solid saves. “

Minutes after Gilligan saved Coyne’s shot in front of the net she made a similar one, this time beating the puck to the left post on a two-on-one rush while on the power play.

“She moved across the crease really quick tonight,” defenseman Kaillie Goodnough said.

As Gilligan and her defensemen play more games together they’re able to communicate more effectively, she said. She was able to be more aggressive and play further out of the crease to cut down the shooter’s angle.

Her positioning helped her direct shots into the corners of the ice and cover up rebounds in front to limit Northeastern’s second-chance opportunities.

“My depth was a lot better in the net than last week,” said Gilligan, who gave up 7 goals in a 10-2 loss to Boston College last Saturday. “I’m getting a little more comfortable with my D and trusting them as much as they’re trusting me so I’m comfortable playing out of my crease a little bit more.”

She played with confidence and showed her experience, Flanagan said. When players were crashing the net, Gilligan was able to freeze the puck and get a stoppage in play. She also avoided having to make highlight-reel saves.

“It’s like good referees,” Flanagan said. “You don’t notice them, right? When you don’t notice your goalie (she’s) just doing a good job.”

The only shot that beat Gilligan came with just over seven minutes left the second period. As Northeastern’s power play ended, a Syracuse defender missed a check, leaving Coyne unguarded with the puck by the left faceoff circle.

She sent one past Gilligan’s blocker and into the top-left corner of the net.

“Give her credit,” Flanagan said of Coyne’s goal. “That’s why she’s on the Olympic team.

After the strong performance, Gilligan will most likely be the starter when Syracuse takes on UNH tomorrow — her former team. 

“It’ll definitely be a big one for me,” Gilligan said. “This is one game I really don’t want to lose.”