POTSDAM, N.Y. – Despite scoring two power play goals in the second period, the No. 5 Colgate women's hockey team lost in the final of 10 regular season matchups against No. 8/9 Clarkson by a score of 5-2. With the loss, the Raiders are 11-4-1 and are still 6-2-0 in ECAC Hockey play after the nonconference faceoff.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period saw both teams exchanging shots on goal, but the Golden Knights got on the board approximately six minutes into the period to take the 1-0 lead. Always an evenly-matched contest, at the end of the first period both teams registered 12 shots on goal.
Making an impact early, Clarkson scored just 43 seconds into the second period to take the 2-0 lead, but it wasn't a lead that would last for long. Sophomore
Danielle Serdachny capitalized on a Colgate power play opportunity by scoring her sixth of the season and cut the Golden Knights' lead to 2-1.
The second period continued to be back-and-forth, as Clarkson added another tally off the faceoff at the 11:40 mark. Shortly thereafter, the Golden Knights were called for cross-checking to create another power play chance for the Raiders. Just 14 seconds into the 5-on-4 advantage, sophomore
Sammy Smigliani cleaned up the rebound off Serdachny's deflected shot to cut the Golden Knights lead to 3-2. Firing up the offensive momentum, Colgate held the advantage in shots on goal by a 30-20 margin at the end of two.
While facing just a one-goal deficit headed into the third period, the Raiders looked to tie the contest up. Try as the Raiders might to battle back, Clarkson added a quick tally, before tacking on an empty netter throughout the frame to increase its lead to 5-2. Even as a power play in the final minutes was paired with an extra attacker for a 6-on-4 advantage, the Raiders were unable to close the gap before the horn sounded on regulation for a 5-2 loss in its final matchup against the Golden Knights in the regular season.
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 2 | 7:08 - Sophomore
Sammy Smigliani's shot from the left faceoff circle was deflected, and with the help of a persistent effort from junior
Noemi Neubauerova to knock it in, sophomore
Danielle Serdachny poked it from right in front of the net to score the power play goal.
• Period 2 | 17:15 - While with the man advantage, junior
Tanner Gates passed to Serdachny in the offensive zone, who then shot in the left faceoff zone. Smigliani cleaned up her deflected shot from the edge of the crease and poked it in for the score.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• With one goal and one assist, sophomore
Sammy Smigliani earned her second straight multi-point night and extends to a three-game point streak (3G, 2A).
• Junior
Rosy Demers won a team-high 77.8 percent of her faceoffs as she went 7-for-9 in the circle.
• With her assist on the second goal, junior
Tanner Gates now has a team-leading 11 assists on the season.
• Colgate recorded 18 shots on goal in the second period, marking a new season-high for shots in one period.
• This is the fourth time this season the Raiders have scored two power play goals in one game, with the last coming against St. Lawrence on Jan. 22.
• Defensively, senior
Shelby Wood registered a season-high of four blocked shots.
• Overall in the 10-game series against Clarkson, the Raiders went 5-4-1.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• No. 8/9 Clarkson 5, No. 5 Colgate 2
RECORD UPDATES
• No. 5 Colgate holds a 11-4-1 record and is 6-2-0 in ECAC Hockey play.
• No. 8/9 Clarkson is now 8-6-1 overall and has a conference record of 3-3-0.
HEAD COACH GREG FARGO'S TAKE
"Unfortunately, we dug ourselves a hole against a very good team and we couldn't fight our way back in completely, despite a strong second period on the heels of two power play goals. Our special teams play was a highlight tonight for sure. I thought our second period was as good of a period as we've had all year, but it wasn't enough to win the game.
"After a 10-game run with Clarkson, we've learned a lot about ourselves and these games have been great for that."
UP NEXT
The Raiders travel for a two-game road series against Quinnipiac on Feb. 13-14 in Hamden, Conn. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. each day.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate women's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateWIH and Instagram at colgatewih.
