For the inaugural season, Flanagan was joined by Graham Thomas, who played for Mannheim Jung Adler in Germany, and Erin O'Brien, a two-time All-American at Plattsburgh State, an NCAA Division III school for women's ice hockey.

[5] Cheyenne Bojeski was a transfer from Mercyhurst,[6] while Julie Rising came to the Orange from Bemidji State.

The Orange's inaugural season was in 2008–09, and the team played its first ever game on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at Colgate.

Lucy Schoedel recorded her 100th career save (and totaling 130 stops in just four games) in a 1–0 losing effort.

[11] The following day, co-captains Julie Rising and Stefanie Marty would both score as Syracuse won its first ever game by a 2–0 tally.

In the quarterfinal round of the College Hockey America tournament, the Orange were ousted by the Niagara Purple Eagles by a score of 3–2.

In the win, senior transfer Ashley Cockell scored her first career goal for the Orange.

[21] Freshman goaltender Kallie Billadeau made 26 saves as she played in her first game for the Orange.

Isabel Menard recorded the first hat trick in school history and added an assist.

[23] By December 6, 2010, Isabel Menard had nine multiple-point scoring games, setting a Syracuse program record.

[23] The team ended the season Syracuse won its first CHA Tournament championship in 2019, defeating Robert Morris by a score of 6–2.

[24][25] Orange forward Lindsay Eastwood scored three goals in the tournament, tying the league record.

As CHA champions, the Orange earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, their first appearance ever.