Boxscore
HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/11/06) - The Colgate University women’s hockey team stifled No. 8/9 Clarkson on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Starr Rink as the Raiders shut out the Golden Knights 2-0.
It was the second time this season that the Raiders, backstopped by Brook Wheeler (Brussels, Ont.), have blanked a top 10 team. Wheeler made 22 saves this afternoon to earn the first star of the game in her sixth career shutout.
The Colgate women’s hockey program was celebrating alumnae weekend as they hosted the 4th Annual Center Ice Club Weekend. The current squad was able to show the many alumnae in the stands how far the program has come and where it is going.
Freshman Elin Brown (Calgary, Alta.) lit the lamp early for the Raiders at 6:48 of the opening frame, with help from Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.). Hunt held the puck in the zone after a scramble along the boards down in the far end. Hunt slide the puck back to Brown who was just coming off of the right side boards and took a shot from a sharp angle that squeezed past Kira Hurley in net.
The second Raider goal was all about the seniors as Becky Irvine (Lakeview, N.S.) and Allison Paiano (Orleans, Ont.) helped pad the lead for Colgate with a short-handed goal. The goal tied the Raiders’ record for most short-handed goals in a season with six, which was set in their very first Division I year, in 2001-02.
Clarkson attempted the clear the puck out but Paiano and Irvine had were fresh just off a line change. Paiano displaying a hardy forecheck forced a Clarkson defender to give up the puck and attempted to pass to a teammate. Irvine intercepted the puck and carried it back into the offensive zone, stopping just below the dot on the right side circle. She took a shot which was redirected out front by Paiano, who was battling a defender, and went five-hole on Hurley at 19:01 of the second period.
Clarkson finally had a chance to pull Hurley at 00:13 but Colgate won the draw and was able to maintain control of the puck as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Hurley made 20 saves in the loss, as shots were even at 22 apiece.
Colgate will travel to New England next weekend to take on Dartmouth and Harvard. The Raiders and the Big Green will face off on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., and the Raiders will take on the nationally-ranked Crimson on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.
