Boxscore
HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/5/05) - The Colgate University women’s ice hockey team swept its opponents in its first ECAC Hockey League series of the 2005-06 campaign, after a 4-2 victory over Yale on Saturday.
Colgate took an early lead at 4:23 of the first period when the Raiders were able to convert on their first power-play attempt of the contest. Mallory Johnston (Chatham, Ont.), who was on the left side of the goal, sent a pass behind the net to Cassie Reid (Chilliwack, B.C.). Reid circled in and sent a pass to Carly McNaughton (Lethbridge, Alta.) who was waiting on the doorstep. McNaughton sent a straight shot on Sarah Love that went high over her shoulder and to the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
Becky Irvine (Lakeview, N.S.) was at the red line right in front of her team bench as both teams were making line changes. Irvine skated in on the net with no resistance from the Bulldogs and sent a shot through the five-hole to give the Raiders the two-goal cushion at 6:53 of the first period. Mallory Johnston and Allison Paiano (Orleans, Ont.) were credited with the assists.
With Yale being called for the first penalty of the second stanza, a hooking infraction, Colgate set up in the power-play formation. Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.), positioned on the left side, sent a pass to Kiira Dosdall (Fairfield, Conn.) at the point. Dosdall shifted the puck to Mallory Johnston on the right side where Johnston sent in a shot that was tipped in by Reid as she was battling with a Yale defender just outside the crease.
Yale mounted a comeback when they tallied a man-advantage goal of its goal at 9:20 of the second. With a 2-on-1 break from the blue line, Kristen Stupay skated down the left side boards and passed to Jenna Spring. Spring lofted the puck to the upper right corner to put the Bulldogs on the board.
With a face-off low in the Yale zone won by Sheila Zingler, Deena Caplette picked up the puck and sent a cross-ice pass to Kristin Savard, who was able to beat Colgate’s Brook Wheeler (Brussels, Ont.) in net at 15:08 of the second stanza to cut the Raider lead to 3-2.
The Bulldogs came out of the locker room with fire in their eyes in the third period, knowing they were down by just one goal. Wheeler stacked the pads on all 12 Yale shots, stopping some stunners, allowing Colgate to settle back into their groove and find their momentum. Yale called a timeout with just 3:03 remaining and after struggling to find their offense, they pulled Love at 1:29 for the extra attacker.
Just seconds later Ashley Bradford (Burnaby, B.C.) capitalized on the wide open net and sealed the victory for the Raiders with an unassisted tally, her first marker of the season.
Shots were even at 25 apiece, with Wheeler making 23 saves, while Love stopped 21. Colgate went 2-for-5 on the power-play, while Yale was 1-for-4.
Colgate continues its nine-game homestand when they host Robert Morris on Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m., followed by an exhibition contest against Brock on Sunday, November 13 at 2 p.m.
