No. 14 Colgate recorded six unanswered goals to overcome an early deficit and cruise to a 6-1 victory over No. 19 Robert Morris in the championship game of the Three Rivers Classic Tuesday at the CONSOL Energy Center.
The Colonials opened the scoring with a goal from Matt Cope just 7:26 into the contest, but the Raiders countered with goals from junior Kyle Baun and sophomore Jake Kulevich to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Colgate added pair of insurance markers from senior Joe Wilson and freshman Mike Panowyk in the second to expand the Raiders margin to 4-1. Juniors Tyson and Tylor Spink closed out the scoring with a pair of goals during the third period.
Sophomore Charlie Finn made 26 saves in goal for Colgate as the Raiders held the nation’s highest-scoring offense to one goal for just the second time this season. Sophomore Dalton Izyk finished with 46 saves for the Colonials as Colgate out-shot Robert Morris, 52-27.
Bottom Line
#14/17 Colgate 6, #19 Robert Morris 1
Won-Lost Records
– Colgate improved to 11-6-1 overall as it captured its second regular-season tournament title in as many seasons by winning the Three Rivers Classic.
– #19 Robert Morris dipped to 12-3-3 with the setback.
How It Happened
– Cope staked Robert Morris to a 1-0 lead at the 7:26 mark of the first period. Cope took a pass from Brandon Denham to get behind the Colgate defense and was knocked to the ice on the rush, but was able to knock the puck between Finn’s pad from his stomach for his fifth goal of the season. Jeff Jones earned a secondary assist on the play.
– Colgate tied the game at 1-1 just 63 seconds after Robert Morris’ opening tally on Baun’s eighth goal of the season. Baun collected a loose puck on the left side of the goal line before working his way behind the net and deftly banked a shot off the skate of a Colonial’s defender and into the back of the cage. Junior Tyson Spink was credited with the lone assist on the goal.
– Kulevich put the Raiders in front, 2-1, late in the first when he wired a slapshot from the top of the left faceoff circle under Izyk’s left arm for his fourth goal of the season. Junior Darcy Murphy earned the only assist on the goal.
– Wilson got the Raiders an insurance marker at the 13:20 mark of the second period, stuffing home a loose puck on a goal-mouth scramble for his fifth goal of the season. Senior Daniel Gentzler earned the only assist on Wilson’s goal.
– Panowyk stretched the Raiders edge to 4-1 in the closing minutes of the second when he knocked home a loose puck from the top of the crease for his fifth goal of the season. Wilson and Murphy earned assists on Panowyk’s goal, which came at the 16:43 mark of the middle period.
– Tyson Spink and brother Tylor closed out the scoring with a pair of goals in the third period. Tyson found the net from the slot on an assist from junior Ryan Johnston 7:10 into the final period. Tylor closed out the scoring with his first goal of the season on a rebound opportunity at the 13:19 mark of the frame. Baun picked up his second point of the night with an assist on Tylor’s strike.
Inside The Box Score
– Colgate enjoyed a commanding 52-27 shot advantage in the contest. The Raiders out-shot the Colonials in all three periods, highlighted by a 25-9 edge in the second period.
– Colgate was 1-for-3 on the power play while Robert Morris was 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
– Tyson Spink and Baun led the Raiders with seven shots each while Dan Friedmann paced the Colonials with four attempts.
– The Raiders held a 36-24 margin at the faceoff circle. Tylor Spink was 15-of-21 at the dot to lead Colgate.
‘gate One Timers
– Colgate improved to 2-3 versus ranked teams this season. The Raiders faced a ranked school for the third time in the last four contests with its matchup against the Colonials.
– Raiders moved to 9-1-0 in 2014-15 when leading after two periods.
– Colgate improved to 3-0-0 this season when recording 40 or more shots in a contest.
– Raiders saw their record move to 9-3-0 when scoring a power play goal.
– Colgate moved to 4-1-0 versus Atlantic Hockey competition this season. The Colonials were the third different AHA school the Raiders have taken on this season (at Sacred Heart, vs. Mercyhurst).
– Raiders improved to 2-5-1 on the year when their opponent scores first. Colgate’s other victory under such circumstances came in a 4-3 overtime win over Brown on Nov. 21.
Key Raider Information
– Colgate attempted a season-high 52 shots during the contest. The previous high for the Raiders was 41, set against Northeastern on Oct. 17.
– The six goals scored by the Raiders represented a new season best for the Raiders, eclipsing the old mark of five set on two previous occasions (at Sacred Heart/at Princeton).
– With his two points, Baun increased his team-leading point total to 17 (8 G/9 A). Tyson Spink also notched two points in the contest to remain point back of Baun in second place (9 G, 7 A).
– Baun and Tyson Spink were two of four Colgate players to finish the evening with multiple points as Wilson (1 G/1 A) and Murphy (2 A) also registered more than one point in the game.
– Tylor Spink became the 16th different Colgate player to score a goal this season with his third-period tally.
Up Next
– Colgate returns to action Jan. 9 when it travels to ECAC Hockey foe Clarkson for a 7 p.m. contest.
