BOX SCORE

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (2/25/11) - The Colgate men's hockey team got a 39-save effort from rookie goaltender Eric Mihalik as the Raiders battled third-ranked Yale to a 1-1 tie on Friday night at Ingalls Rink.

Colgate (7-23-4, 4-14-3 ECAC) remained unbeaten in its last three games and is 4-1-1 in its last six games. Mihalik led the way by tying his season high for saves with 39, including 22 in the third period and overtime. Austin Mayer had the lone goal for the Raiders, while rookie Chris Wagner and Robbie Bourdon earned the assist.

Yale (22-5-1, 16-4-1 ECAC) went to overtime for the first time this season. Ryan Rondeau dueled with Mihalik all night and came up with 31 stops with 13 in the third period. Andrew Miller netted the only goal for the Bulldogs, who came into the game as the top scoring team in the nation, averaging 4.41 goals per game.

In a fast-paced first period, the teams played even with Yale holding an 11-10 advantage in shots during a scoreless 20 minutes. Colgate definitely had its opportunities to put one in the net, but Rondeau responded. Wagner and Brian Day got a great chance on a 2-on-1, but the Yale netminder sniffed out the one-timer by Day to keep the game scoreless. Mihalik also played well with 11 saves in the first period.

Yale broke the ice to take a 1-0 lead as Miller scored with 12:28 left in the second frame with Brian O'Neill on the assist. Colgate answered with 3:41 left in the period to knot the score at 1-1. Wagner did the work and Mayer got a pass from the rookie in the offensive zone and he wasted no time firing it past Rondeau for his third of the season. Bourdon contributed with his 12th assist of the season.

The third period ended up scoreless, but the fans were treated to some excitement. The two teams combined for 31 shots on goal. The Bulldogs had 18 of the 31 shots, but Mihalik was up for the challenge and finished regulation with 35 stops between the pipes. Colgate did a great job killing of three penalties in the period as Yale looked to be taking over the second half of the frame. The Bulldogs had three of their four power plays in the final 20 minutes.

Yale brought the pressure in the overtime period as well with four shots to only one for the Raiders. Mihalik stood tall in net, denying all opportunities for the Bulldogs to put the game away and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The shooting battle went to Yale at 40-32 and each team went scoreless with the man advantage. Colgate had three chances, all in the two periods, while the Bulldogs had four in the second and third frames.

With Harvard's win over Clarkson, the Raiders cannot jump out of the 12th position in the league. The Crimson and St. Lawrence Saints have 13 points apiece in the two spots ahead of Colgate and both schools own the tie-breaker over the Raiders. Harvard has six wins in league to Colgate's four with one left, while St. Lawrence swept the season series.

The Raiders' first round opponent has been cut down to three schools. With Dartmouth winning tonight, the Big Green clinched a bye at the third spot. Cornell sits in fourth after a loss to Brown and needs to beat Yale to clinch a bye. Princeton beat Rensselaer and both are still alive for the first round bye, but the two can slip all the way to sixth.

The playoff positions will be set following the final regular season games tomorrow night. Colgate will be traveling to Brown for a 7 p.m. faceoff at Meehan Auditorium.

NOTES: Colgate played in its eighth overtime game, while Yale went to extra time for the first time this season (28 games) … the Raiders are 1-4-3 in overtime this season … Mihalik gave up just one goal for the third time in his last seven starts … the Bulldogs were held to one goal for only the second time this season … first scoreless opening period for the Raiders and their opponent since Jan. 21 against Cornell, which ended in a 1-1 tie at Starr Rink … Mayer has goals against Army, Cornell and Yale this season … first goal since New Year's Eve against Dartmouth … Wagner extended his point streak to three games with an assists with two goals and an assist in the last three contests … Bourdon tallied his fifth career point against Yale and has tallied a point in 20-of-26 games against Ivy League opponents.