POTSDAM, N.Y. – An entertaining second period filled with highlight-worthy plays helped lift the No. 9 Colgate women's hockey program to a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Clarkson on the road Saturday evening.
In the first of four matchups between the ECAC foes this week, first-year
Kalty Kaltounkova recorded a two-goal game, while sophomore
Sammy Smigliani notched the game-winner.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a scoreless first period, the Raiders saw the first power play opportunity of the night as
Malia Schneider drew a penalty on a chance at the crease. As the second half progressed, goaltender
Kayle Osborne began to be tested, but sent lots of blocker saves high and wide to keep it scoreless through one.
The standout second period for the Raiders was kicked off just 1:31 after the drop of the puck as first-year
Kalty Kaltounkova recorded her first career goal with a highlight reel play to get Colgate on the board. With the momentum, the Raiders quickly went onto a power play opportunity where they continued to bring an onslaught of offense to the Clarkson zone.
Just past the midway point of regulation,
Sammy Smigliani scored her first of the year on an odd-man rush, before Colgate added a second in a 43-second span with Kaltounkova's second on the night. Behind the powerful effort on the period, Colgate was able to head to the locker room with a 3-0 advantage after 40:00 of action.
As the top-10 foes continued to compete, there was fast play across the sheet with spans between whistles. After a breakaway opportunity by Nemo Neubauerova, the Raiders earned another power play opportunity as the game got chippy. It wasn't until there was just 2:36 remaining in regulation that Clarkson would make a late appearance on the board as a shot through traffic found the net on the glove side.
Both teams opted to call their timeouts in the final minute of regulation as Clarkson looked to chip away at Colgate's lead, but the Raider defense would hold strong through the final seconds to skate away with a 3-1 upset of the No. 5 team in the nation.
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 2 | 1:31 –
Rosy Demers capitalized on a turnover in the Clarkson zone, before she handled the puck between a pair of Golden Knights to pass across to
Kalty Kaltounkova in the slot. With a flip of the puck, Kaltounkova made a backhanded bat in the air to put the puck over the glove of the Clarkson netminder.
• Period 2 | 10:23 – In a 3-on-1 opportunity in the Clarkson zone, centered
Tanner Gates served up a behind-the-back pass to
Sammy Smigliani on her left. Smigliani popped a quick a wrister to the top shelf to make it a 2-0 game.
• Period 2 | 11:06 – Taking the puck down the right boards into the Clarkson zone,
Danielle Serdachny crossed the puck over to Kaltounkova at the left hashmarks. Kalty's one-timer flew to the top shelf to pop the bottle and make it a 3-0 game just 43 seconds later.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• After scoring her first career goal in her third game played, first-year
Kalty Kaltounkova recorded her first multi-goal game of her career by adding a second in the same period.
• Fellow first-year
Kayle Osborne made her third straight start in goal to tally a season-high of 28 saves.
• Sophomore
Sammy Smigliani scored her first of the season after a 33-point (14G, 19A) performance in her debut season. Smigliani's tally stood as the game-winner, the second of her career.
• By earning an apple on the opening goal, junior
Rosy Demers extends to a three-game point streak in which she's tallied one goal and three assists for four points.
• As Colgate held Clarkson scoreless on its three power play opportunities, the Raiders extended to not sacrifice any power play goals to their opponents this season by going 9-for-9 on the penalty kill.
• Offensively,
Noemi Neubauerova led the team with four shots on goal, while
Shelby Wood's three blocked shots topped the team.
• In addition to Demers,
Maggie MacEachern extends to a three-game point streak (1G, 2A), while Smigliani (1G, 1A) and Kaltounkova (2G, 2A) begin two-game point streaks.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• No. 9 Colgate 3, No. 5 Clarkson 1
RECORD UPDATES
• No. 9 Colgate remains undefeated to hold a 3-0-0 record.
• No. 5 Clarkson begins the season 0-1-0.
HEAD COACH GREG FARGO'S TAKE
"I thought tonight's game was really indicative of how our team is coming together. There were so many noticeable team-first type plays being made out there and our bench energy was evident once again. I liked our intensity for the majority of the game too.
"Everyone is excited for Kalty, that she got her first couple collegiate goals and I thought Kayle was rock solid, as she has been since her first start.
"With more games to come this week, It will be important we use the off day the right way to keep moving forward as a team."
UP NEXT
Continuing the four-game lineup against Clarkson, the Raiders are set to host the Golden Knights at Class of 1965 Arena on Monday, Nov. 30. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate women's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateWIH and Instagram at colgatewih.
