The day after Syracuse lost the faceoff battle, 46-16, the Orange won just 20 of 63 faceoffs in their 5-3 loss against Princeton (4-2-2, 3-0-1 College Hockey America) on Sunday in Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion.

Heading into the weekend series against the Tigers, SU (4-7-1, 4-2-0) had an average faceoff record, winning 49.4 percent. After winning 16 of 62 in Saturday night’s loss and 20 of 63 on Sunday night, SU’s season average has dipped to 45.8 percent.

“That’s something we really need to work on still,” head coach Paul Flanagan said after the game. “We talked before the game tonight that if you’re getting beat consistently you have to change your tactic. Typically, that’s get underneath her stick before she can get the puck. Tie her up, maybe kick it to a D or wing. But we kept trying to win them clean.”

Flanagan’s message was almost identical to the one he gave after Saturday’s loss when he credited trying to win the puck cleanly as the reason SU struggled. The faceoff disparities are out of character for the Orange, as they typically go about “60-40,” Flanagan said.

Winning faceoffs is key because it gives the Orange extra possessions and potential scoring opportunities, defenseman Jess DiGirolamo said.

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On SU’s first goal, freshman forward Marielle McHale won a faceoff in the left-hand circle. The puck squirted out to defenseman Allie Olnowich, who wristed a shot on goal from the blue line. McHale crashed the net and was ready to collect the rebound and slot it in.

“I think we just need to keep going to the net,” McHale said. “That’s what we stressed a lot all week.”

McHale’s second career goal cut Princeton’s lead to 2-1 in the second period. The faceoff that set up the goal was the lone faceoff McHale won, though. She lost her other 10.

Syracuse’s freshman forward Lauren Bellefontaine had the most faceoff success, winning seven and losing nine. Senior Brooke Avery won nine and lost 16.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Lindsay Eastwood scored a goal that brought SU within one of Princeton, 4-3. A minute later, though, Princeton’s Karlie Lund beat Brooke Avery on a faceoff, which led to an empty-net goal for the Tigers, sealing the game.

“Even when they’re 50/50 pucks, (Princeton) was getting possession,” Flanagan said. “Kudos to them. They’re well coached in that area.”