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HAMILTON -- Colgate women's ice hockey edged rival Syracuse 2-1 here Friday night at Starr Rink.

Jessie Eldridge and Nicole Gass added to their season points total with a goal each to help the Raiders earn their seventh victory of the season. Colgate with the win improved to 7-2-5 for a .679 winning percentage. That matches the best Raider record through 14 games since the 2003-04 squad went 9-4-1, also for .679.

Breanne Wilson-Bennett had a hand in both goals with two helpers, while Bailey Larson also tallied a point from her assist on Eldridge's tally. In between the pipes was rookie Julia Vandyk, who posted her third victory in the Maroon and White.

Despite numerous scoring opportunities from both sides throughout the first period, the frame ultimately ended scoreless.

Colgate then got on the board with the only goal of the second frame. Eldridge was credited with the tally, her seventh of the season. Larson started the play by bringing the puck up the ice. She slid it over to Wilson-Bennett, who passed it over to Eldridge in front of the goal. The first year then used some great stick work to slyly flick the puck between her legs and under the pads of Syracuse's Jenn Gilligan for the go-ahead marker.

The Raiders made it a two-goal game 12:35 into the final period after Gass notched her first goal of the year. Eldridge and Wilson-Bennett worked the puck around the Syracuse defensive zone before finding Gass at the blue line. The Cookshire Eaton, Quebec, native then blasted a shot through traffic that blew past the Orange goalie and into the back of the net.

With the clock winding down, Syracuse pulled Gilligan to gain an extra attacker. The sixth skater proved to be just what the Orange needed as they pulled to within 2-1 following a goal from Megan Quinn.

Even though Syracuse got a late tally and continued to play with an empty net in hopes of finding the equalizer, Colgate's defense stopped any further offensive drives to secure the win.

Vandyk recorded 35 saves, while Gilligan made 15 stops.

The Raiders are back in action Tuesday and Wednesday when they welcome Mercyhurst for a two-game set in Starr Rink. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

Live stats and video will be available at the start of the games.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 2, Syracuse 1
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improves to 7-2-5 overall.
• Syracuse shifts to 6-8-1.
• Colgate's win hands the Raiders a .679 winning percentage, which matches their best record through 14 games since the 2003-04 squad went 9-4-1.
 
Key Raider Info
• Eldridge and Wilson-Bennett led the team in points with two, while two other Raiders recorded one point each.
• The Raider goals were scored by Eldridge and Gass.
• Wilson-Bennett finished with a team-high four shots.
 
Raider Goals
• 1st period: No goals.
• 2nd period: Eldridge, assisted by Wilson-Bennett and Larson.
• 3rd period: Gass, assists to Eldridge and Wilson-Bennett.
 
Facts & Figures
• The Raiders went 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Orange were not awarded a man-up advantage.
• Syracuse outshot Colgate 36-17.
• Four Colgate players recorded points in the contest.
• Vandyk earned 35 saves and shifted her career total to 104.
 
Up Next
• The Raiders are back in action Tuesday and Wednesday when they welcome Mercyhurst to Starr Rink. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
• Live stats and video will be available at the start of the games.

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