Raiders Halted at Home, 27-3
Sophomore James Travellin #32 carried 27 times for 116 yards for Colgate against Stony Brook Saturday night at Andy Kerr Stadium. (Photo by Bob Cornell)
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – Oct. 12, 2013) Colgate’s third different starting quarterback and fourth different starting tailback didn’t lead to the start of a winning streak.
Stony Brook beat the Raiders 27-3 here Saturday night one week after Colgate claimed its first victory of the season at Cornell.
Freshman Jake Melville and sophomore James Travellin drew the nods in the offensive backfield this time as head coach Dick Biddle and staff try every combination to stave off what has become a hurricane of injuries. Among those not available were offensive stalwarts Gavin McCarney, John Wilkins, Demetrius Russell, Dylan Finelli and Jimmy DeCicco.
“We’re running out of bodies and that’s a problem at key positions,” Biddle said. “But give the kids credit – we played hard and we were physical. Stony Brook is a good team with a lot of good athletes.
“It’s just that our margin of error is extremely low.”
Biddle said two plays helped turn what could have been another hotly contested game – like last year’s 32-31 Long Island thriller won by the Seawolves – into a one-sided affair. Stony Brook claimed 10 points thanks to a first-quarter fumble by Colgate’s John Quazza on what would have been a first-down completion, and Naim Cheeseboro’s 52-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first half.
“As hard as we played, if you take those two plays out it’s a close ballgame,” Biddle said. “They got points out of both plays and we were fighting for momentum. You could be talking about a fourth quarter with a chance to win.”
The Raiders fell to 1-5 overall, while Stony Brook is now 3-3 with impressive losses at Buffalo in five overtimes and to ranked opponents Villanova and Towson.
Colgate, too, has played a difficult non-conference slate, including games against Air Force, Albany, New Hampshire and now Stony Brook. But the Raiders’ woes have been compounded by one missing person after another.
“We’ve played a very difficult schedule,” Biddle said. “We’ve played four scholarship schools in these first six games; the schedule hasn’t helped us. We’ve just got to regroup.
“We’ve made some moves, but hopefully we will get some people back that will help us.”
Another Early Deficit
Stony Brook scored on its opening drive, marching 70 yards in 12 plays with Jameel Poteat doing the honors from 7 yards out. After an exchange of punts, the Seawolves took advantage of the Colgate fumble to make it 10-0 on Graham Ball’s 40-yard field goal.
The visitors stretched the lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter before Colgate had registered its initial first down. Poteat scored this time on a 5-yard run to cap another 70-yard march with 14:04 left in the half.
Colgate began to make some headway and was about to cross into Stony Brook territory for the first time when Cheeseboro stepped in front of Melville’s pass and raced 52 yards down the grandstand sideline. The score was 24-0 at intermission.
The third quarter was scoreless, thanks in part to Colgate safety Mike Armiento picking up his brother Nikko midway in the period.
The latter Armiento had inadvertently let his knee hit the ground on a low-snap punt attempt, handing Stony Brook excellent field position at the Colgate 34. But three plays later on second-and-goal from the 8, Mike Armiento picked off a Seawolves pass that was batted in the end zone by Colgate’s Wendell Lewis.
Armiento’s grab was his fourth interception this season and 10th career, lifting the junior into a tie for ninth on Colgate’s all-time list. Tom Wilson (1964-66) holds both the season mark of eight (1966) and the career record of 20 interceptions.
Armiento also increased his season interception yardage total to 144, just 32 shy of the program’s one-year mark of 176 set by Al Simmons in 1952. Last week at Cornell, Armiento snapped a 61-year-old Colgate record for interception return yards in a game when he picked two for a combined 134 return yards.
Colgate got on the board in the fourth quarter thanks to a 14-play drive that consumed 7:10. Freshman Jonah Bowman nailed a 38-yard field goal to make it 24-3.
Stony Brook answered with a matching three-pointer at the 3:12 mark to close out the scoring.
Bridgeforth, Travellin Post Numbers
Colgate defensively allowed a season-low 351 yards of total offense. Helping the cause was wide receiver-turned-cornerback Adam Bridgeforth. The sophomore from Nazareth, Pa., led all players with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops.
“It’s been super-fun,” Bridgeforth said of his move from offense. “I haven’t played D-back since high school, but I was looking for any way to get on the field. This was my first full game back there, so it was pretty exciting.”
Bridgeforth says that despite Saturday’s score, his teammates are making strides just in time for the Patriot League season.
“That team had so many good athletes,” he said of the Seawolves. “We didn’t shut them out in the second half, but we stifled them. If we can just put together a full game like that – and we definitely can – we can get it going in these league games.”
Travellin also was a game-leader, finishing with 116 rushing yards on 27 attempts in his first career start.
“I was just trying to take what I could get every time and make sure Jake was all right back there,” Travellin said of his fellow backfield mate. “I wanted to put on a decent performance now that I had my shot.”
A sophomore from Rutherford, N.J., Travellin is the fourth Colgate tailback this season to be a game-rushing leader in his first career start – joining Wilkins (90 at Air Force), Russell (144 at New Hampshire) and DeCicco (141 at Cornell).
“It’s all about following your blocks and the coaches have done a great job,” Travellin said. “You’ve got to give a hand out to them and the offensive line.
“We’ve just got to find the end zone. We’re going into league play, so we’ve got to start looking to next week and get everyone healthy.”
Tight ends were the pass-catching leaders for both squads. Quazza caught four for 58 yards to lead the Raiders, while Will Tye was Stony Brook’s top target with eight for 70 yards. Stony Brook quarterback Lyle Negron completed 18-of-30 for 196 yards; Colgate’s Melville was 7-of-19 for 106.
Other tackle leaders for Colgate were safety Demitri Diamond with eight, just ahead of linebackers Vinny Russo with seven, Cameron Buttermore with six, and Kyle Diener and Kris Kent with five apiece. Bobby Stup added a 9-yard sack in the game.
Colgate climbs into Patriot League play next week at Holy Cross. The Crusaders (3-4) opened their conference schedule with an impressive 51-27 victory earlier Saturday at Bucknell.
Colgate-Holy Cross kicks off at noon.
Colgate Falls to Navy, 3-0
Raiders Come Up Short Against the Mids
By Kat Castner
(Annapolis, Md. – Oct. 12, 2013) On rainy Saturday night Colgate dropped a 3-0 decision to the Navy Midshipmen, handing the Raiders their second loss of league play.
Colgate (2-9-1, 1-2-1 PL) received shot from Evan Heroux, Ethan Kutler, Tanner Schilling, Colin O’Neill and Geinda Smith but couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Rookie Ricky Brown made one save and handled the majority of work while senior Christian Quinttus saw action in the closing minutes of the game.
Navy (6-3-2, 3-0 PL) saw Joseph Greenspan, Nick Dubee, and Jamie Dubjoski all register goals in the win. Gavin Snyder was awarded the victory making three stops in the contest.
The Raiders found themselves in a hole after a quick Midshipmen goal just four minutes into the match. Martin Sanchez found Dubee, who shot from the left side to the far right post past the outstretched arms of Brown for the early 1-0 advantage.
Colgate tried to equalizer following a hard driven Schilling shot, but Navy came up with the block keeping the Raiders out of the net.
At the 20-minute mark the Mids extended their lead to 2-0 after Greenspan put one past Brown for his fourth of the year.
Again it was Schilling, who started a Raider attack on the opposite side of the field when he saw an opening and riffled a shot on net. The ball sailed wide of the goal but gave Colgate another great chance on goal.
Throughout much of the second half, the Raiders continued to close the deficit by pressuring the Mids back four.
Early in the final 45 minutes, O’Neill tried his luck on goal but Snyder came up with a stellar save to push the ball away from net. Dan Matthews collected the rebound and fired a shot on goal but it soared just wide.
In the 78th minute, Navy notched an insurance marker to ultimately secure its win. Dubyoskibroke throughout the Raiders’ backline and placed the ball past Brown for his seventh marker of the year.
Despite the three goal deficit, the Raiders did not back down on their offensive pressure. In the closing minutes of the game Colgate sent a dangerous ball into the box. Before the Raiders could get a good shot off, the Mids cleared the ball away from goal, keeping their shutout alive.
Navy finished out the remaining minutes to grab the victory.
Colgate has a non-conference midweek game with Cornell in Ithaca at 7 p.m. on Tuesday before welcoming Holy Cross on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Van Doren Field.
Williams Lifts Colgate Past Holy Cross, 1-0
Sophomore Catherine Williams scored her second goal of the season to give Colgate a 1-0 Patriot League win over Holy Cross Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Bob Cornell)
By Kat Castner
(Hamilton, NY – Oct. 12, 2013) Colgate saw reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Catherine Williams tally a goal in the 83rd minute to take a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday night.
“We knew Holy Cross would be a better team than its record showed,” Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn said, “I am proud of the way our team prepared and played after a short turnaround following our midweek Army game. Caroline Brawner has been a standout for us all year, and that was quite evident tonight. Cat Williams showed great perseverance in finding a way to finish. The team will take a well deserved couple of days off and get back at it on Tuesday as we get ready for Bucknell.”
Holy Cross marked the Raider’s midfield slowing the pace of the game in the opening 45 minutes but the Raiders made the appropriate adjustments to that style of play in the second half and it paid off as Williams notched her third of the season. The play for Colgate (8-4, 4-1 PL) was made possible thanks to a beautiful through ball from junior captain Caroline Brawner. Rookie Brenna Mason recorded five saves in her fifth win of the year.
The Crusaders (2-8-3, 2-3 PL) were led by Gina Righini, who notched four shots in the loss. Six other Crusaders posted shots in the contest. Carly McCabe earned five stops in the game as well.
The Raiders tallied a great chance on net in the 19th minute of play. Colgate played a cross into the box, finding the head of Williams. Her flick on net looked good but McCabe grabbed it out of the air for the save.
A few minutes later Emily Manoogian took a beautiful corner kick right to the head of Emily Pullen. The freshman’s redirection sailed just high over the net but gave the Raiders another good chance on goal.
Holy Cross answered on the other end of the field with a chance of its own. Off a Cassie Muzikcorner kick, the ball found the head of Sarah Price but her try on net went high over the crossbar.
Just before halftime Chelsea Roche took a free kick from 30 yards out on the left side of the field. She bent her shot to the opposite corner of the goal but it just grazed the post sailing out for a goal kick.
After a scoreless first half, Williams started a Raider attack when she sent a dangerous cross into the 18-yard box. McCabe came diving out, however, to make a great stop before Sarah Coy could find it with her foot.
The Raiders continued to try and break down the Crusaders back four when Kelsey Hough played a perfect ball behind the defense to Williams. Holy Cross saw McCabe make a stellar block though before Williams got a good shot off.
Colgate had another great look on net a few minutes later when Williams played the ball into Brawner off the end line. The junior, who was wide open eight-yards out from goal fired a shot but again McCabe was there to earn the stop, saving a potential goal.
With less than eight minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders’ attacking pressure paid off as Williams placed one past McCabe for the eventual game-winner. The play started after Brawner sent a brilliant through ball behind the Holy Cross defense to Williams, who slipped it past the goalie for the game’s lone goal.
Colgate held strong throughout the remainder of the game to secure its fourth win in conference play and sixth shutout of the year.
Raiders Shutout Connecticut, 1-0
Craig’s Marker Lifts Colgate 1-0 Over Huskies for First of Season
By Kat Castner
(Storrs, Conn. – Oct. 12, 2013) Colgate tallied its first shutout of the season in a 1-0 defeat of Connecticut on Saturday afternoon thanks to junior Taylor Craig’s first goal of the year.
“We really liked how our team responded today,” Colgate head coach Greg Fargo said. “It was a tough, gritty kind of game and both teams carried play at different times. We were short handed to begin with and played through some injuries throughout our lineup but ultimately everyone on our bench contributed to the team win today.”
Colgate (1-3) received its game-winner from Craig late in the first frame. Melissa Kueber was given the assist for her first of the year. Junior Susan Allen made her first start in net for the Raiders and notched 37 saves for a season-high. Allen also made an impressive 19 stops in the middle frame.
Connecticut (1-4) had 37 shots on net, including a game-high 19 in the second period. The Huskies went 0-for-2 on the power play as well.
Eight minutes into the opening period, Colgate was awarded a power play opportunity after aUConn hooking penalty. The Raiders rattled off five shot attempts but were unable to put one past the Huskies goaltender Elaine Chuli for the game’s first score.
The Raiders finally converted at the 16:46 mark when Craig netted one, putting Colgate up 1-0.
After a scoreless middle frame UConn tried to equalize with two quick shots in the opening minutes of the third period. Leah Buress saw an opening and fired the puck on Allen but she came up with a brilliant stop to keep her shutout alive. Rebecca Fleming collected the rebound and tried to place one past Allen but again the junior held strong grabbing the save.
In the sixth minute Colgate was called for a checking penalty giving the Huskies an extra skater on the ice. On the power play the Raiders came up with some stellar defense, blocking two of UConn’s four shots on goal.
At the 11:34 mark in the final period, Colgate tried to extend its advantage on a UConn tripping penalty. Craig led the Raider attack with two solid shots on net followed by near misses from Jocelyn Simpson, Nicole Gass, and Kueber.
The Raiders finished out the remainder of the game not conceding the tying goal for their first win of the 2013-14 season.
Colgate is back on the ice Friday when they travel to the Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex in Rochester for a matchup with RIT at 7 p.m.
Volleyball Defeats Loyola
Raiders Improve to 5-1 in Patriot League Play
By Matt Faulkner
(Hamilton, NY – Oct. 12, 2013) The Colgate volleyball team rebounded after a tough loss last night and took down Loyola, 3-1 (25-21, 14-25, 25-22, 25-11), in the first Patriot League meeting between the two squads.
The Raiders (12-6, 5-1 PL) didn’t have an overpowering match, but was able to respond after the Greyhounds tied the match at 1-1. Diane Seely posted 11 kills, while Kaylee Fifer recorded 33 assists. Caitlin Cremin added 13 digs and Allie Dyer had 11.
Loyola (5-14, 2-5 PL) got 10 kills from Faye Lukas and Kara Schiffer had 16 digs. Lauren Anderson and Kelly McShea shared time as setters with McShea earning 17 assists and 14 from Anderson.
“Loyola came out ready to play and it took us a while to find our rhythm,” head coach Ryan Baker said. “Our blocking made some great strides this weekend which has been a focus the last week. It was nice to see the team regroup after last night.”
The teams played evenly early on in the first set, but a shot 7-2 run by the Raiders opened up a 14-10 lead. Kate Reilly, Lindsay Young and Seely had kills and Fifer added two blocks as well. The Greyhounds couldn’t recover from that run as the Raiders put away the opening set with a kill from Seely to take a 1-0 lead with a 25-21 win.
Loyola, however, came out in the second set and dominated the first 19 points and had a 15-4 advantage. The Raiders got to within five at 19-14 with a kill by Young, but the Greyhounds ran off six-straight points to earn the 25-14 win to tie the match.
Colgate responded in the third set and opened the set on fire with a 7-1 lead. Colgate got help from Loyola errors, while Kenzie Hume, Seely and Young added kills and Dyer posted an ace. The Greyhounds didn’t go away however as they tied the match at 14-14, but once again they hurt themselves with errors. Colgate got the lead back and it ballooned to 19-14 after a couple of errors and blocks by Fifer and Seely. The run proved to be the difference as Colgate won the set with a block by Young to regain the lead in the match at 2-1 with a 25-22 win.
The fourth set started out back-and-forth, but the Raiders blew out the Greyhounds with 15 of the last 17 points to win the match with a 25-11 victory. Colgate ran away with the set with 10 consecutive points with Cremin posting five aces out of the 10 points. Seely closed it out with her 13th kill of the match.
The Raiders are back on the court this coming Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Albany.