Evin and Williams Power Colgate By Harvard

Jason Williams posted two points including scoring the game winner in the victory at Harvard

Final Box

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (2/20/2010) – Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) scored the game winner at the midway point of the third period and Ethan Cox (Richmond, B.C.) added an empty net goal in the closing seconds of regulation as visiting Colgate doubled up Harvard 4-2 in a men's ECAC Hockey clash at the Bright Center, Saturday evening.

With the victory, the Raiders complete their first sweep over Harvard since the 2004-05 campaign. Colgate now has 22 points in the standings and moved into a tie with Rensselaer for fourth place after the Engineers fell to Princeton. St. Lawrence's tie with Brown puts it one behind in sixth. With the result, Colgate has clinched at least a first round best of three series at Starr Rink to open the ECAC Hockey tournament.

The Raiders, which evened their record at 13-13-6 overall and 10-8-2 in league play, struck first at 4:40 of the opening period as David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) fed Austin Smith (Dallas, Texas) and the sophomore beat Crimson starting net minder John Riley for his second score of the weekend and 13th on the year. The game went into intermission with Colgate holding the one-goal advantage.

Harvard, which fell to 7-17-3, 7-10-3 in ECAC Hockey, began the second period with its normal starter between the pipes in Kyle Richter and the junior was tested early and often. Finally, the 10th shot of the period went into the cage courtesy of Brian Day (Danvers, Mass.). The junior's 20th goal of the season at 4:26 of the second was assisted by a pair of freshmen in Robbie Bourdon (Ile Bizard, Que.) and Thomas Larkin (Cocquio Trevisago, Italy).

The Crimson fought back and solved starter Alex Evin (Castlegar, B.C.) for the first time in 16 shots as Luke Greiner cut into Colgate's lead at 10:48 of the second.

The third period saw Harvard pepper Evin from the opening face-off, but the sophomore held his ground making 15 of 16 stops in the final period to help preserve the victory. At 10:40, Williams scored an unassisted goal, his seventh of the year, to once again give the Raiders a two goal cushion. That score was greatly needed as Harvard tallied the game's lone power play goal from Danny Biega at 12:57 to again pull within one at 3-2.

In the closing minute, Harvard pulled Richter for the extra attacker and put a few shots on goal, but couldn't even the score. After calling a timeout with 45 seconds left, the Crimson's attack led to two shots. Cox ended the game with his fifth of the year from Williams and Jeremy Price (Milton, Ont.) with three seconds left.

Evin returned to form stopping 38 of 40 shots thrown on net. Richter finished with 27 saves in two periods of play, while Riley saved 11 in his only period of action. Colgate outshot Harvard 42-20. The Crimson went one of three on the power play, while the Raiders were held scoreless in five tries.

Colgate closes the regular-season at Starr Rink next weekend as they host their league rivals from the Capital District in Rensselaer and Union. Friday's contest with the Engineers will be broadcasted live on Time Warner Cable Sports. The feed of the game will also be picked up on the NHL Network. Opening face-off will be around 7:07.

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