Sirens goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder sees a vision.
This is not the same New York team that took the ice in the PWHL's inaugural season last year. It's better, more synchronized, and more efficient.
There is certainly a lot to clean up. But it's possible, Schroeder said after the Sirens' 1-0 overtime victory over the Toronto Septers on Sunday at the Prudential Center.
“We were pretty gritty and proved we could fight back and stay that way,” Schroeder said.
Nine games into the season, coach Greg Fargo has seen New York (3-2-1-3) play very well at times and stumble at times. Sunday was a classic example.
The Sirens have had problems with a slow start this season. But on Sunday, New York defeated Toronto 10-3 in the first period.
From there, the Sirens' offense stalled and defensive mistakes created opportunities for the Sceptres, who outscored the home team 24-8 in the final two periods.
The Sirens stayed in the game as Schroder stopped Toronto's attempt from leaking.
But in the end, the sirens showed their strength when it mattered most. Top pick Sarah Filia sent the puck up the ice and Jesse Eldridge chased it. Eldridge scored the winning goal in overtime when he put the puck into the net.
“There's going to be ups and downs at this level of competition,” Fargo said. “But the way we started tonight was really good. The way we responded midway through the third was really good. I thought we started to get some of that ice back, and it's all about learning and growing and winning at this level. It’s part of finding a way to learn how.”
Schroder stopped 28 shots, earning his second straight shutout.
In Fargo's eyes, there's no debate as to who the Siren's top netminder is.
“Schroes has been our No. 1 goaltender in the organization for a long time,” he said. “She has shown her level of play since day one, but there is a calmness and competitiveness to her game in particular that we really like right now.”
Sunday's extra-time victory kept the Sirens tied for fourth in the league standings with 14 points.
There's plenty of season left. With six teams competing for four playoff spots, the margin of error is slim. There is only a four-point difference between first-place Montreal Victoire and fifth-place Boston Fleet.
The Sirens finished bottom of the standings in 2024 and made radical changes this offseason. They hired Fargo to make Prudential Center their permanent home after playing in three different arenas last season.
New York also drafted former Princeton star Fillier with the top overall pick and added depth with six other picks, including Maja Nylen Persson and El Hartce.
The revamped roster and new system that Fargo implemented has made New York look like a much stronger team than it did a year ago.
Just ask Troy Ryan, the reigning PWHL Coach of the Year.
“They look a little more solid than they were at one point last year,” the Toronto coach said. “The league is so close on any given night that any team can beat the other team. I think New York got off to a relatively good start.”
The Sirens host the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday before heading off on a three-game road trip.
That's the foundation of being a playoff team.
“If we continue to do the right things and start connecting for the entire 60 minutes, our games are going to be pretty exciting to watch down the road,” Schroder said.
“We're still trying to find consistency in our game and trying to put it together period by period, game by game, but I think that's coming,” Fargo said. “There's a lot of belief in the people in our room and what we're doing, and I think we're trying to find more consistency with that. … We're a work in progress, That's what we're going to do. But we're looking forward and we want to continue to grow and make sure we're playing our best hockey during the most important time of the year.”
