HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/31/2008) – Freshman goaltender Kimberly Sass (East Amherst, N.Y.) made a career high 34 saves as the Colgate women’s hockey team defeated Mercyhurst 4-3 on Friday, Oct. 31 at Starr Rink. This was Colgate’s first victory over the Lakers since a 3-0 shutout in 2005.

 

The Colgate scoring was led by senior Elin Brown (Calgary, Alta.) who record a season high two goals including the eventual game winner in the third period to help the Raiders hold of a late Lakers attack.

 

Mercyhurst opened the scoring with a power-play goal from Ashley Cockell with 3:43 remaining in the first period. Sass made key save after key save in the opening period as the Lakers had five power-play opportunities out-shooting Colgate 10-2.   

 

‘The first period seems to be our Achilles heel” said head coach Scott Wiley “We have been out-shot and out-scored all season in the first, but for some strange reason that seems to get us going.”

 

Brown got the Raiders going redirecting a shot past Mercyhurst goaltender Courtney Drennen 4:44 into the second period. Senior Kiira Dosdall (Fairfield, Conn.) took the initial shot, a one-time from the top of the slot that glanced off Brown to find the back of the net. Sophomore Hannah Milan (Great Barrington, Mass.) assisted on the initial shot. 

 

Senior Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.) recorded her seventh goal of the season with three minutes remaining in the second and was followed two minutes later by Milan’s goal to give Colgate a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Hunt’s goal was a pipe ringing one-timer from the lower left slot off an assist by Dosdall and Milan. Milan’s goal was assisted by junior Ali Edell (Mountain Lakes, N.J.). The Raiders out shot Mercyhurst 8-7 while going 2-3 on the power-play.

 

Brown’s eventual game winner came in the third with 5:33 remaining to extend the lead to 4-1, Dosdall and junior Katie Stewart (Exeter, Ont.) assisted. Mercyhurst wouldn’t back down as Bailey Bram recorded two goals in the remaining four minutes to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough as Sass recorded 20 saves in the closing period to record her third win in as many tries this season.  

 

Mercyhurst out-shot the Raiders 37-18.

 

Colgate finished 2-5 on the power play while the Lakers went 1-7. The raiders served 31 minutes in the box while the Lakers served 12.

 

Colgate (5-3) will continue against Mercyhurst (3-4) tomorrow in Starr Rink at 3 p.m.