HAMILTON – Starr Rink refused to go quietly, and the same is true for Colgate’s wily bunch of women’s hockey Raiders.
Shae Labbe scored 14:45 into overtime to lift No. 9 Colgate to a thrilling 3-2 victory over nemesis Harvard and advance the Raiders to the ECAC Hockey tournament semifinals for the second time in program history.
Capping a glorious final weekend in one of college hockey’s fabled arenas, Colgate tore up the history book for yet another chapter with its record 22nd victory of the season. None has been sweeter than Sunday’s beauty that will be remembered for a long time in the annals of Raider hockey.
The Raiders needed a goal in the third period and another in overtime to get past the Crimson, which had been quite the thorn in Colgate’s pads over the years. Harvard entered the weekend 27-1-2 all-time against Colgate before the Raiders put a dent in that series record Friday and then completed the 2-games-to-1 series win Sunday afternoon.
Megan Sullivan’s goal 2:36 into the third period pulled the Raiders even, and then Labbe won it well into the sudden-death overtime session to set off a furious celebration on the ice and in the stands.
It’s also quite a cap to a memorable final weekend of hockey in Starr Rink, which opened in 1959 and gives way next season to the Class of 1965 Arena. In addition to the women’s series victory over Harvard, the men completed a weekend sweep with triumphs over No. 17-ranked RPI and Union.
Colgate takes on second-seeded Clarkson this Saturday at Quinnipiac. Puck drop is slated for 4 p.m. The host Bobcats take on St. Lawrence in the other semifinal at 1 p.m.
Harvard’s streak of 17 consecutive seasons playing in the ECAC Hockey last four comes to an end.
