Box Score

TROY, N.Y. (1/15/11) – Despite making a series of comebacks, the Colgate women's hockey team could not find the goal they needed to force the game into overtime, suffering a 5-4 setback to Rensselaer on Saturday afternoon. The team outshot the Engineers 27-15.

Senior Jessi Waters had one goal and two assists while sophomores Jenna Klynstra and Brittany Phillips had two points apiece from one goal and one assist each. Freshman Rachel Walsh also scored a goal for the Raiders and junior Amanda Kirwan had two assists.

The first period started off pretty even with both teams creating their share of scoring opportunities in front of each other's net. As the game progressed, it was clear that both teams were determined to get on the scoreboard but neither team could find success. It wasn't until the final minute when Colgate (7-14-2, 4-7-1 ECAC) committed a penalty, giving the Engineers a power play advantage that resulted in a goal at the 19:34 mark from Taylor Horton to give them the 1-0 lead.

Both teams came out playing aggressively in the second frame. Rensselaer found success first at the 2:30 mark courtesy of Alisa Harrison to put the score at 2-0. Feeling the pressure of the two-goal deficit, Colgate answered back less than five minutes later when Waters picked up a pass from Phillips and knocked it into the net to keep the Raiders in the game. Sophomore Jessica Hootz was also credited with an assist. Still carrying its scoring momentum, the Engineers found the net once again at the 15:23 mark but, like before, Colgate returned the favor three minutes later with a goal from Walsh to put the score at 3-2 at the end of the second period. Kirwan and Klynstra were credited with the assists.

With a 3-2 score going into the third frame, both teams picked up their intensity. Colgate got off to an exciting start with Klynstra netting an equalizer at the 3:56 mark with the help of Waters and Kirwan. With the game tied, both teams were hungry for a goal to take the lead. Determined to maintain its advantage, Rensselaer scored two quick goals just 62 seconds apart at the 9:12 and 10:14 marks to take the 5-3 lead. However, like clockwork, the Raiders found a goal from Phillips at the 13:01 mark with an assist from Waters and Heidi Peterson to put the score back to a one-goal difference. Colgate fought hard, outshooting the Engineers like it had done in the previous periods, but despite its best efforts, the team could not find the goal they desperately needed to force the game into overtime, resulting in a 5-4 setback.

Senior Lisa Plenderleith had 10 saves for the Raiders while Shannon Ramelot and Sonja van der Bliek had 15 and 8 saves respectively for Rennselaer.

The Raiders will resume play next weekend when they face No. 2 Cornell in a two game-set. The team will first host the Big Red on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in Starr Rink before traveling to Ithaca, N.Y. for a second game on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m.