ITHACA, N.Y. (2/2/08) – The Colgate University women’s hockey team posted a 2-1 win over Cornell University on Saturday, Feb. 2, backstopped by freshman Lisa Plenderleith’s (Ajax, Ont.) 41 saves.

 

The Raiders scored a goal in the first and second periods and were on their way to a shutout before the Big Red scored an extra attacker goal with just 21.3 seconds on the clock.

 

The first period featured balanced action with the Raiders outshooting the Big Red, 11-8.

 

Colgate took a 1-0 lead at 16:32 with a 5-on-4 power-play goal. Junior Kiira Dosdall (Fairfield, Conn.) had the puck near the blue line on the right side and slipped it across the ice to senior Mallory Johnston (Chatham, Ont.). Johnston sent the puck down the ice to sophomore Marissa Dombovy (Webster, N.Y.) who was positioned right on the doorstep, and was able to one-timed the puck up under the cross bar.

 

The second period was lopsided with Cornell taking 21 shots to Colgate’s eight, but the Raiders extended their lead to 2-0 with an even-strength tally by sophomore Beth Rotenberg (Toronto, Ont.). Colgate capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone when junior Laura Jansen (Wilmette, Ill.) grabbed the loose puck and sent it across the ice to Rotenberg. Rotenberg skated in on net and went five-hole on goaltender Katie Wilson.

 

Plenderleith had a terrific game, stopping the puck at all costs. She made 11 stops during nearly two minutes of 5-on-3 action midway through the period. In addition Plenderleith made a sliding stop on a one-on-one with Brianne Schmidt. Dosdall helped to protect the net with a big block in the slot after Cornell’s Rebecca Johnston found a puck that Colgate tried to clear out.

 

Dosdall and the rest of the Raider defense did a great job of clearing the puck out of danger in the third period, as Cornell had 13 shots to Colgate’s nine. She cleared out a rebound after it popped free onto the paint after a Plenderleith save in the early going of the third period. Cornell’s Johnston tried a wrap around and Plenderleith was there and the defense was able to send the puck down the ice and out of danger.

 

The Cornell bench pulled Wilson with just under two minutes remaining to try to tie the game up. Plenderleith saved the first two shots on goal, before Johnston rifled a shot from the bottom of the right face-off circle that skidded over the goal line with just 21.3 seconds on the clock. She received the pass from Brittany Forgues on the left side.

 

Colgate went 1-for-5 on the power-play and was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

 

Wilson made 26 saves as Cornell falls to 10-11-1 overall and 7-8-1 in the league.

 

Colgate improves to 10-12-4 overall and 7-6-3 in the league, and takes sole possession of sixth place in the standings.

 

The Raiders host St. Lawrence and Clarkson on Feb. 8-9. It will be Pink at the Rink weekend, as well as Center Ice Club weekend. For more information check out the Colgate Athletics Web site.