POTSDAM, N.Y. – After first-year
Nick Anderson scored his first career goal to force overtime, the Colgate men's hockey program was able to claim an extra ECAC Hockey point with a shootout win at No. 10/12 Clarkson on Sunday evening.
Although the game officially stands as a 1-1 overtime tie, it marked the first shootout for ECAC Hockey after its adoption of the rule change for the 2020-21 season. The Raiders were able to claim a critical point in the standings behind goals by
Matt Verboon and
Alex Young, and a 29-save performance by
Andrew Farrier.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The conference matchup opened with fast play and few whistles. Late in the opening period, the Raiders landed a wide-angle shot on net, but Clarkson cleaned it up to take play down the sheet to crack onto the board in the final minutes. Even after the goal, there was enough time for some 4-on-4 play and an abbreviated Colgate power play, but that would be it as the first 20:00 came to a close.
As the puck was dropped on the second, Colgate drew its first full power play in the opening minute. While it was a solid opportunity, a diving save in the final seconds of the man advantage kept it a one-goal game. As the in-state foes began to alternate man advantages,
Andrew Farrier made more and more saves to keep Colgate close.
After
Trevor Cosgrove was tied up along the back boards in the final two minutes, the Raiders managed to put together an odd man rush while shorthanded, but entered the third period facing another 32 seconds of penalty kill and a one-goal deficit.
In the final 20:00, each team would open with another power play opportunity forcing the goalies to make big stops. It would then be midway through the period that
Nick Anderson would score on the rebound for his first of the season and a 1-1 game.
Following the tying goal, Colgate faced another penalty kill but it was one that highlighted the program's team first mentality.
Arnaud Vachon made a big blocked shot and Farrier continued to make key saves. The efforts paid off when Anderson's goal stood as the last in regulation to force extra hockey.
After 65:00 of action, including an extra 5:00 of 3-on-3 play, the team's headed to the first shootout in ECAC Hockey action. For the regulation tie, each program picked up a point, but an extra would be up for grabs with the shootout opportunity.
Farrier was tested first as Clarkson had first attempt at the shootout. Holding strong in the crease, he denied the Golden Knight before
Matt Verboon skated to center ice for Colgate's first attempt. By beating the glove of the Clarkson netminder, Verboon put the Raiders up after the first round.
As Clarkson skated down the sheet on their second attempt, Farrier was locked in and stopped the shot again to put Colgate in a comfortable position. It was then that first-year
Alex Young took to center ice and with a backhanded flip to the twine, would score to claim the extra ECAC Hockey point for the Raiders after the 1-1 tie.
COLGATE SCORING PLAY
• Period 3 | 09:54 – Breaking out,
Jeff Stewart carried the puck into the Clarkson zone, and brought it across the crease. While his shot was stopped, the puck popped out in the slot and
Nick Anderson was ready to send it to the twine on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• First-year
Nick Anderson recorded his first career goal to tie the game and force overtime for the Raiders.
• Anderson is the eighth Raider to score a goal this season.
• With an assist on the regulation goal, junior
Jeff Stewart tallied his second apple of the year.
• Between the pipes, junior netminder
Andrew Farrier earned a season-high of 29 saves on 30 shots faced, plus denying both of Clarkson's shootout opportunities.
• Colgate held its opponent scoreless on the power play for the second time this season, as Clarkson went 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
• First-year
Pierson Brandon led the squad with three blocked shots, while sophomore
Colton Young earned a team-high of three shots on goal.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 1, No. 10/12 Clarkson 1 – Colgate Shootout Win
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds a 1-2-2 record, and a 0-1-1 mark in ECAC Hockey action.
• No. 10/12 Clarkson is 6-3-1 overall on the season and is 1-0-1 in ECAC Hockey play.
HEAD COACH DON VAUGHAN'S TAKE
"It certainly wasn't easy and it's not suppose to be especially on the road against a ranked opponent. Clarkson is a very good team. They are a hard team to contain. We had a 'bend but don't break' mentality tonight.
Andrew Farrier was very good tonight. We relied on him to make the stops he is suppose to make and our defense did a good job cleaning up rebounds and loose pucks after that. I pleased with how we hung around in this game and kept it close until we found a way to get the equalizer. I am happy for the guys that we picked up the extra point."
UP NEXT
Colgate continues ECAC Hockey action with a three-game stint against St. Lawrence. Play begins at Class of 1965 Arena on Thursday, Jan. 7 with a 5 p.m. puck drop, followed by a pair of road games Jan. 9-10.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.
