HAMDEN, Conn. – Despite generating chances that led to a 33-22 margin in shots on goal, the Colgate men's hockey program fell at No. 10/11 Quinnipiac in a 4-2 final.
 
Saturday's matchup at Quinnipiac will mark Colgate's 14th game against a top-15 team this season, as well as the regular season finale. Puck drops at 4 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate was granted an early power play opportunity, but even though the Raiders created chances, it would be Quinnipiac who scored first with the man advantage. The goal didn't waver Colgate's momentum though, as they converted on its next power play behind an Alex Young tally to make it a 1-1 game. It was a score that stood through the opening 20:00.
 
Coming out for the second, Colgate clocked some serious minutes in the Quinnipiac zone, but the Bobcats went ahead for the second time nearly midway through regulation. Just two minutes later, Jeff Stewart answered with a gritty play down in the paint. For the second time, the teams ultimately headed to the locker room in a stalemate, this time at 2-2.
 
Behind a pair of power plays at the start of the third, the Raiders put some major minutes in the offensive zone. However, with just under 8:00 to pla7, the Bobcats went ahead for a third time by scoring on the rebound. The Raiders continued to battle and create opportunities as the period went on, but Quinnipiac was able to capitalize on a turnover to increase its lead to 4-2.
 
Despite opting for the extra skater, Colgate was unable to add another. The third period was one in which the Raiders outshot the Bobcats by a 13-5 margin, but the 4-2 final would stand against the nationally-ranked opponent.
 

Creating time and space, he posts this pretty PPG ?? pic.twitter.com/aOgIIPnQ0a

— Colgate Men's Hockey (@ColgateMIH) March 5, 2021

COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 1 | 13:14 – While on the man advantage, Nick Austin fed the puck to Alex Young along the left boards. The first-year created time and space, swerving into the slot and scored through traffic to make it a 1-1 game.
• Period 2 | 10:45 – Hammering the zone, Ross Mitton had a wide angle shot on goal. Jeff Stewart was ready at the doorstep to clean up the rebound by picking up the puck, circling the crease, and getting it past the pad of the Quinnipiac netminder.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• The goal marked first-year Alex Young's 13th point of the season as well as his team-leading 8th goal of the year.
• Junior Jeff Stewart scored his second of the season, and first since at St. Lawrence (Jan. 23). In addition to notching his seventh point of the year, the center went 8-for13 on his faceoffs for a 61.5% success rate in the circle.
• The Raiders outshot Quinnipiac by a 33-22 margin, their second-highest shots on goal of the season. It came behind a game-high of 13 shots on goal in the third period.
• Behind his apple on Colgate's first goal, defenseman Nick Austin holds two points through the last three games. Austin led the Raiders along with sophomore Colton Young by posting four shots on goal.
• By going 1-for-4 on the power play, the Raiders converted with the man advantage for the second time in the last three games.
• Across the two goals, six different Raiders landed on the scoresheet.
 

Second of the night for the Raiders, second of the season for Stew ?? pic.twitter.com/uDaUmWdBnf

— Colgate Men's Hockey (@ColgateMIH) March 6, 2021

 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• No. 10/11 Quinnipiac 4, Colgate 2
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds a 5-10-5 record, and a 4-9-4 mark in ECAC Hockey action.
• No. 10/11 Quinnipiac is 17-5-4 overall on the season and is 10-3-4 in ECAC play.
 
HEAD COACH DON VAUGHAN'S TAKE
"I really liked our effort tonight. We had the better part of the play for much of the game. We possessed the puck like we wanted to and generated enough scoring chances.
 
"Quinnipiac is a very skilled team and they can make you pay for mistakes, that was the difference tonight. We had a couple of opportunities to clear pucks in the third and they didn't get out. They made us pay for that. That's the difference between winning and losing right now.
 
"We went head-to-head with one of the best teams in the country tonight and had our opportunities to win that game. There are a lot of positives to take away from tonight's game."
 
UP NEXT
Colgate concludes ECAC Hockey action tomorrow, with its series finale at No. 10/11 Quinnipiac. The puck drops at 4 p.m. in Hamden, Conn.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.