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HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/10/12) – Rookie John Lidgett tallied four points, including two goals to help the Colgate men's hockey team take down Yale, 4-2, on Friday night at Starr Rink.

Colgate (16-10-3, 10-6-1 ECAC) got two goals and two assists from Lidgett, while Corbin McPherson and Austin Smith tallied a goal apiece in the win. Austin Mayer recorded a couple of assists. Chris Wagner Kurtis Bartliff and Thomas Larkin also got in the scoring column with assists. Eric Mihalik stood tall in net with 33 stops, including 14 in the final period when the Raiders needed it the most. Smith's goal was his 31st of the season and his 149th career point, which is a new record for American-born players in Colgate history.

Yale (10-12-3, 7-9-1 ECAC) saw Brian O'Neill and Antoine Laganiere register goals. Jeff Malcolm got the start between the pipes and made 24 saves with 11 coming in the first 20 minutes.

The Raiders took advantage of their first power play chance of the night, coming 3:26 into the game. Mayer gained control of the puck at the side boards after the faceoff and slid the puck to McPherson. The senior captain walked the blueline to the high slot, took a shot through traffic and into the net for the 1-0 lead. The goal came six seconds into the power play.

Yale evened the score at 1-1 with 8:09 remaining in the second period on the power play. Laganiere was able collect a rebound at the post and jammed it home past Mihalik. Jesse Root tried to put the puck on net, but it was blocked and then it came to Laganiere. Root and Chad Ziegler were given assists on the play.

Colgate regained the lead at 2-1 on a great hustle play from its second power play unit. Malcolm went to play the puck behind the net and as he did, Mayer swooped in and stole it. He was able to somehow get the puck to Bartliff, who tried to beat Malcolm short side. The Yale netminder made the stop, but Lidgett was there for the clean up at the top of the crease. The goal was reviewed as the net popped up in the air, but never came of its mooring.

The Bulldogs evened the score again at 2-2 with 14:28 left in the game on a crazy bounce off the glass behind the net. Tommy Fallen took a shot from the high slot that cleared everyone in front. The puck then hit the glass and went back over the crossbar. O'Neill gloved it down to the ice and was able to barely get a piece of the puck to put it home for the score.

Lidgett answered back on another fortunate bounce with 8:45 remaining to give the Raiders a one-goal lead again at 3-2. He got a pass from Larkin down the side boards and didn't waste anytime on a shot. There was no one in front for the Raiders, but somehow it deflected off a Yale stick and through the five-hole of Malcolm. Yale pressured Colgate the rest of the period and pulled the goalie with 1:32 left in the game. Wagner won a battle in the defensive zone and got the puck to Lidgett, who then found Smith streaking in the neutral zone. Smith was able to avoid being taken down from behind and slipped the puck into the open net for the final goal of the night as Colgate came away with the 4-2 win.

Yale was able to come out on top in shots with a 35-28 advantage. Colgate scored two power play goals on four opportunities, while Yale earned one goal in five chances.

The Raiders will be back on the ice tomorrow night at 7 p.m. as Colgate hosts Brown, who lost to Cornell by a 5-2 score on Friday. With the win tonight and Harvard tying Rensselaer, the Raiders took over sole possession of third place in ECAC Hockey with 21 points.

NOTES: Lidgett came into the game with just one goal this year … first two-assist game for Lidgett since the season opener … third player to score four points in a game this year and the fourth time a player has done for the Raiders in 2011-12 … Smith scored his 31st goal of the season and ties Rejean Boivin '88 for the fifth place in all-time single season goals …  McPherson's goal was the fastest on the power play this season … Colgate scored first for the 16th time … the Raiders are now outscoring its opponents 30-19 (+11) in the first period … Mayer had two assists for the second time … Smith has now scored in 19-of-29 games this season … Mihalik tied his season-high for saves with 33 … he did it against Nebraska-Omaha and at Brown.