HAMILTON – Colgate's refuse-to-lose Raiders pulled out a last-minute 2-2 tie against Syracuse here Saturday to cap a competitive Central New York weekend series.
                                                                                                                                                           
Annika Zalewski redirected a shot from Jessie Eldridge into the net with just 25.4 seconds left in regulation to draw Colgate level. Syracuse had grabbed a 2-1 lead six minutes earlier but took a penalty with 1:01 left, allowing the Raiders to pull their goalie and have a 6-on-4 skating advantage.
 
The Raiders maintained possession after the faceoff win and Shelby Perry passed the puck to Eldridge, who fired toward net. Zalewski was in the crease and redirected it past Syracuse goalie Abbey Miller for Zalewski's first goal of the season.
 
Friday night, Colgate escaped Syracuse with a 3-2 victory after rallying from 2-0 down. Colgate's 5-0-1 record through six games is the best start in program history.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 2, Syracuse 2

Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 5-0-1.
• Syracuse moves to 0-4-2.
 
Scoring Recap
• Syracuse scored first for the second day in a row. Heather Schwarz found plenty of space right in front of the net and Alysha Burriss found Schwarz, who put it away nicely in the right netting.
• Colgate leveled near the midway point of the first period. Lauren Wildfang jammed home her second goal of the season, with assists from Eldridge and Perry.
• After a scoreless second period, Syracuse went in front 2-1 late in the third when Stephanie Grossi scored on a wrist shot that beat Colgate's Julie Vandyk low and to her left.
• Zalewski then tied it in the last half-minute.
• In overtime, Colgate had a power play but it was Vandyk who produced the mini-session's best save. The Colgate sophomore stopped Syracuse's Alysha Burriss on a breakaway with 46 seconds remaining.
 
Facts & Figures
• Vandyk finished with 22 saves, giving her 41 for the weekend and upping her record to 4-0-1.
• The Raiders finished with a 37-24 shots advantage, but Syracuse posted a 9-7 advantage in the third period.
• Colgate held Syracuse without a power-play goal in both games, going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill Saturday including a 5-on-3 disadvantage for 68 seconds of the third period.
• Colgate for the season has allowed just one power-play goal in 23 opportunities.
• Eldridge assisted on both Colgate goals and had a goal and three assists for the weekend. All four points came on the Raider power play, and she remains the team leader with 10 points.
• Miller was solid in goal for the Orange, posting 35 saves.
 
Turning Point
• Zalewski's late answer kept Colgate's unbeaten start to the season alive.
 
Series Info
• Colgate improved to 3-0-2 against Syracuse in the last five meetings.
• The Raiders evened are now 8-5-3 against their CNY rivals, including a 5-2-1 mark in Hamilton.
 
From the Sources
• Colgate head coach Greg Fargo: (On the game) "It was another hard-fought game. Every time we play Syracuse they are a tough team, and today was no different. We're a team that likes to have the puck, and they make it difficult for us.
 
"We showed a lot of resilience again. We're finding ways to stay alive, and that's a good sign."
 
Listen to the rest of Fargo's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate sophomore forward Jessie Eldridge: (On her weekend) "I know our power play was working really well. We've been working really hard as a unit and it showed this weekend, which was nice to see."
 
Listen to the rest of Eldridge's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at the Class of 1965 Arena was 512.

Up Next
• Colgate opens ECAC Hockey play with a weekend trip to the Capital District.
• The Raiders face Union on Friday and RPI on Saturday. Both games start at 3 p.m.
• Union is coached in his first season by former Raiders assistant Josh Sciba. Union already has a pair of wins on the young season after last year's squad finished 0-28-6.