HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/1/2008)- The Colgate University women’s hockey team opened the 2008-09 campaign with a 4-3 win over Syracuse Wednesday night at Starr Rink. Junior Katie Stewart (Exeter, Ont.) led the Raiders scoring with a goal and assist, while Syracuse goalie Lucy Schoedel recorded 34 saves during its inaugural game.

 

The Raiders trailed from the opening face off, as Syracuse forward Megan Skelly scored her first goal of the season during the first nine seconds of the opening period. Skelly’s goal came off a rebound from a Kylie Klassen shot. The Orange would add another goal six minutes later as they built an early 2-0 lead. Colgate would answer back with a power-play goal from Stewart with 6:43 to go in the period, quickly followed with an even strength goal from junior Evan Minnick (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) to knot the score 2-2 during the first intermission. Both Raider goals were assisted by senior tri-captain Elin Brown (Calgary, Alta.).  

 

Colgate controlled the tempo of the second period keeping the puck down in the Orange zone and out shooting Syracuse 15-1. Despite an entourage of shots the Raiders were only able to sneak one past Schoebel who record 14 of her game-high 34 saves in the period. Senior tri-captain Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta) recorded her first power-play goal of the year to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead after two periods.

 

The Raiders struck again mid-way through the third period on a goal from sophomore Hannah Milan (Great Barrington, Mass.) to expand the lead to 4-2. Milan was assisted by juniors Nicole McDonald (Calgary, Alta.) and Beth Rotenberg (Toronto, Ont.). The Orange would not go down with-out a fight as Skelly recorded her second goal of the contest with 40 seconds remaining. Senior goaltender Elayna Hamashuk (Nepean, Ont.) made three key saves against two extra Syracuse attackers in the closing minute to seal the Colgate win.

 

Both Hamashuk and sophomore Lisa Plenderleith (Ajax, Ont.) recorded eight saves for the Raiders as they shared time, Hamashuk recorded the win.

 

Colgate went 2-for-5 on the power-play, while Syracuse went 0-for-6. The Raiders win improved their season opener record to 4-8 overall, 2-1 in the last three.

 

Colgate travels to take on Connecticut and No. 9 Providence next Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11 at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m. Both games will feature live stats, with links provided on the Colgate Athletics Web site.