PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Behind a two-goal third period, the Colgate men's hockey program forced overtime at No. 7/8 Providence. Despite the Raiders determined offense, the team would settle for a 3-3 tie against the 2019 Frozen Four program.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate's penalty kill was tested early as freshman Arnaud Vachon headed to the box for holding under three minutes after the drop of the puck. Just as the penalty expired and the Raiders returned to full strength, Providence shot on the near side and picked up the rebound to score on the wraparound for a 1-0 lead just 4:55 into the game. Late in the period, the Raiders peppered the net before Vachon scored on a rebound with a pickup in the paint. Although the Raiders had several scoring chances in the final minute of the opening period after Vachon's answer, the game would stand at 1-1 after 20:00.
 
After returning for the second period, the Friars would strike early yet again. Providence poked the puck out from behind the net to find a Friar in the slot and sent it to the top shelf for a 2-1 advantage just 1:30 in. Midway through regulation the Raiders tipped a chance just wide, as both programs continued to see chances on either end of the sheet. Funneling play back to the Friar zone, Colgate had a look by Trevor Cosgrove before the defense sent it high to the netting.
 
Although the Raiders had another chance in the paint in the final seconds, Colgate would face a one-goal deficit heading into the third. Despite Providence's goal in the second period, the Raiders had a strong session, outshooting the Friars 14-9 to even up chances at 24-24 in shots on goal.
 
Carrying the momentum into the third period, Colgate opened with what seemed to be a power play cycle. Shortly after the pressure by Jeff Stewart's shot that bounced wide, Providence flew down the ice and capitalized on a bounce off the back boards to send the puck behind Mitch Benson. Providence's tally was followed by Colgate's second penalty kill of the night, and after the successful burn, another offensive surge by the Raiders. Just 35 seconds after returning to full strength, McAvoy passed across to Jacob Panetta in the slot and he found the five-hole to make it a one-goal game.
 
It would seem that the momentum would be snuffed out as the Raiders quickly were sent to the box for their third penalty kill of the night but yet again, shortly after returning the skater, freshman Colton Young answered for the Raiders. For his second goal of the season, Young picked up a loose puck in the slot to tie the game at 3-3 with just 5:11 remaining in regulation.
 
As the Raiders overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period, goaltender Mitch Benson had a stellar performance making key saves throughout the session. The horn would sound before either team would again find the twine, signaling Colgate's fourth overtime game of the season.
 
The Raiders made an incredible effort through its extra play, dominating in shots through the 5:00. Colgate's offense was efficient, cycling play through the Friar zone. After a late icing call, the Raiders pulled Benson with 00:01 remaining to get a final shot off Tyler Penner's faceoff win, but would finish in a 3-3 overtime tie against the nationally ranked opponent.
 
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 1 | 13:11 – Colgate's blueliners passed at the top before Nick Austin shot it in. Arnaud Vachon picked it up in the paint and skated it in to the right side for a backdoor goal and a 1-1 game.
• Period 3 | 11:03 – A pass from the right boards by Paul McAvoy was centered to Jacob Panetta. His shot in the slot flew through the five-hole for a 3-2 game.
• Period 3 | 14:49 – The puck was fed from the goal line by McAvoy through the paint to Colton Young in the slot. The freshman then chipped the puck over the pads of the Providence netminder to even the game at 3-3 late in regulation.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Freshmen duo Arnaud Vachon and Colton Young each recorded their second goals of the season. Each has scored their goals in the same games after they earned the first in their careers at UMass Lowell (Oct. 18).
• Senior Jacob Panetta notched his first of the season, and first since scoring at St. Lawrence (March 2). Panetta's offense also topped the team with a season-high of six shots on goal, tying Nick Austin's against RIT (Oct. 5).
• Behind his pair of assists, junior Paul McAvoy now holds five points through the last five games.
• With Providence going 0-for-3 with the man advantage, Colgate held its opponent scoreless on the power play for the third straight game.
• The Raiders remain undefeated in overtime games, with a 1-0-3 record this season.
• In net, sophomore goaltender Mitch Benson earned a season-high 39 saves including a game-high of 16 in the third period. It was Benson's third 30-plus save performance of the season.
• The Raiders surpassed 40 shots on goal for the first time this season, including outshooting Providence 4-1 in the overtime session.
• With a team-high of four block shots, freshman Anthony Stark recorded a new season-high in the category.
• With his action tonight, senior John Snodgrass played in his 100th career game.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, No. 7/8 Providence 3 – OT
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds a 1-4-3 record.
• No. 7/8 Providence is 4-2-1 overall on the season.
 
COACH VAUGHAN'S TAKE
"I was very happy with our play tonight. We had to make some adjustments after the first and our guys responded. We got stronger as the game went on and even after falling behind 3-1 in the third, our guys never lost their focus.
 
"Providence is a top-10 team in the country and we battled back on the road. Our young guys are figuring things out and we had two big goals by freshmen tonight.
 
"The biggest takeaway for me tonight is that we played to win. Often fragile teams play not to lose, and that is not who we are right now. Our goal is to work to get better every day.
 
"We know that things get even tougher with ECAC league play beginning next week. Everything ramps up and we will work this week to be ready for that."
 
UP NEXT
Colgate returns home next week as the Raiders open ECAC Hockey action against Yale and Brown. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 in the conference opener followed by 4 p.m. on Nov. 9 against Brown.
 
The pair of games serve as the bi-annual Silver Puck Weekend. For a full list of the weekend's activities and to register, click HERE.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.