Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (12/1/07) - Robert Morris scored twice in the final five minutes of the third period, but they were unable to catch up to Colgate who beat the Colonials 4-3 in men's hockey on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Starr Rink. Win the win, the Raiders improve to 6-7-2 overall this season, while RMU falls to 6-4-1.

With five minutes left in regulation, Colgate held a comfortable 4-1 lead. However, Robert Morris was unwilling to let the score stand. At the 15:11 mark of the third period, the Colonials capitalized on a 5-on-3 power-play situation. RMU took a time out to talk things over, and when the teams returned to the ice, the Colonials set up in the zone. Nathan Longpre took the puck at the high point, then passed it to Chris Kaufman at the right dot. Kaufman one-timed a pass to Chris Margott, who scored backdoor.

The Colonials continued to pressure the Raider goal, outshooting Colgate 16-9 in the third period. RMU put freshman goaltender Jim Patterson on the bench with just over two minutes on the clock, and the gamble finally paid off with 13 seconds to play. Tom Biondich found Chris Margott camped out on the left side of the crease. Margott threaded a pass across the slot and through traffic to Ryan Cruthers. Cruthers was able to beat Colgate senior goaltender Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.) stick-side to make it a one-goal game, but Robert Morris was unable to complete the comeback.

Colgate got on the board 7:12 into the game. After a battle in the corner, the puck shot out to the right point, where junior Mark Anderson (Hastings, Neb.) one-timed a slapshot toward the net. Patterson made the save, but senior Tyler Burton (Langley, B.C.) picked up the rebound in the slot, shot through traffic, and beat the goaltender high on his blocker side.

Just over a minute later, the Raiders struck again to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) took a pass from senior Dustin Gillanders (Kyle, Sask.), then carried the puck into the offensive zone on the right side, beat a defender, and crashed the net. Junior Joe DeBello (Oswego, Ill.) picked up the rebound and beat Patterson on his blocker side for his first collegiate goal.

Less than a minute into the second period, Colgate scored its third goal of the night. Sophomore David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) crossed the puck to junior Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) in the neutral zone. Riley carried it across the blue line on the left side, drew his defender to him, and made a highlight-reel pass to freshman Brian Day (Danvers, Mass.), who had a wide-open net to score into.

The Colonials got on the board midway through the second frame. After receiving a pass from Margott, Cruthers put a quick wrist shot on net from the left circle, through traffic, to surprise Dekanich and make it a 3-1 game.

Colgate re-established its three-goal lead early in the second period. Gillanders attempted a shot that went wide and behind the net, where Brisebois picked it up and passed it in front to classmate Kevin McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.). McNamara shot from the left circle, and Patterson made the save. However, McNamara picked up his own rebound and scored with a low shot, stick-side.

Both goaltenders finished with 25 saves. The Colonials finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Raiders were unsuccessful on four extra-man chances. Colgate edged Robert Morris in the faceoff circle, 41-34, led by Burton, who won 13 of his 18 draws.

Colgate and Robert Morris play the second game of the weekend series on Sunday, Dec. 2, starting at 4:00 p.m. The Raiders will be collecting new or gently-used toys for the Interfaith Council Holiday Project, who will wrap and distribute the toys to needy families in Madison County. For every toy a fan donates, he or she will receive a raffle ticket and be entered into a drawing to win a team-signed stick.