The Colgate Women’s Hockey team was victorious 4-1 over RPI Friday night at Class of 1965 Arena in the team’s annual Autism Awareness game.
Following a pair of tough setbacks the weekend before, the Raiders were ready to rock right from the start against the Engineers. Colgate enjoyed a 12-1 advantage in shots on goal in the opening frame and it didn’t take long to cash in.
During a Raider line change, RPI looked to clear the zone, but Delani MacKay bodied the puck down at the blue line, before Kendall Williamson picked up the loose biscuit. The sophomore then cut to the center of the ice and let loose a wrist shot that eluded Engineer goalie Lovisa Selander’s shoulder to give Colgate the edge just 2:50 into the game.
A few minutes later, the Raider power play, which entered the day as the 10th best in the NCAA, went to work. After a long period of offensive zone time, Coralie Larose handed off a pass to Jessie Eldridge in the far corner. Eldridge then cut to the middle and took a wrist shot that bounded off of Rosalie Demers and past Selander to extend the lead.
Colgate took the two-goal lead into the first intermission, but the Engineers were able to turn the tide in the second. Just over eight minutes into the period, RPI cut the margin to one when Sabrina Repaci finished for her seventh of the year.
The Raiders still held a 24-12 edge in shots on goal after 40 minutes.
Colgate came back in a big way in the final frame. The Raiders got back to controlling play and ended with a 10-3 edge in shots on goal, which included a pair of insurance markers.
Just over six minutes into the period, the prolific senior class got involved once again. While on the rush, Olivia Zafuto worked a pass to Eldridge. She was able to feed the puck on the far side to Shae Labbe, who finished for her 13th of the year.
With time winding down, Colgate put the icing on the cake in a big way. While on a delayed penalty against the Engineers, Eldridge found a loose puck behind the net and wrapped it around to finish off her 22nd of the year. Bailey Larson and Larose picked up assists on the play.
Bottom Line
· #10 Colgate 4, RPI 1
Facts & Figures
· Zafuto now has a point in at least eight straight games.
· Eldridge has at least one point in six straight games.
· Eldridge’s goal brought her season total to 22, which is two shy of tying the program’s single-season record of 24, which was set by Katie Stewart ’10.
· Colgate is now 8-2-1 this season at Class of 1965 Arena.
From the Source
Head Coach Greg Fargo
· “We played especially well in the first period,” said Fargo. “We came out and played the game we wanted to play right from the start. We were able to get everyone in the game and we played well.”
· “It’s really hard to win in this league,” said Fargo. “It can be tough to get momentum back, but we responded in the third period and got a lot of great efforts throughout the lineup.”
On having a full lineup for the first time since early October.
· “It was great, especially to go up early and get everyone on the ice,” said Fargo. “As a coach, you want to play everyone, but when you get everyone in the game it helps to have a little more energy as the game wears on.”