HAMILTON – As the final seconds ticked off the clock, No. 10 Colgate Women’s Hockey and nearly all in attendance at Starr Rink here Saturday afternoon erupted in cheer.
Not only did the Raiders defeat visiting Dartmouth 1-0, but with the win, Colgate broke the program’s Division I wins record.
Oh and that’s not all. Cornell helped its nearby rival out by beating Harvard in overtime, securing that a Raiders victory Saturday afternoon would clinch Colgate home ice in the postseason.
It took two periods but Colgate finally broke through 4:41 into the final frame and then held on to earn its 20th win of the season.
As the Raiders swamped senior goaltender Ashlynne Rando by the net after the final horn, head coach Greg Fargo met them out on the ice and slyly added that they also secured home ice for next weekend. Helmets and gloves went flying after hearing the news and Fargo’s squad screamed in excitement.
The Raiders had done something that the program had never done before – secure a home ECAC Hockey postseason series.
Colgate welcomes Harvard next weekend for the league quarterfinals in a best-of-three series beginning Friday at 3 p.m. The two teams will then meet up again Saturday in a 7 p.m. tilt and then if necessary a game three on Sunday at 3 p.m. All contests will be played in Starr Rink.
The Raiders wanted at least two more games in their historic rink and that’s exactly what they got. Colgate Hockey moves to its new rink, the Class of 1965 Arena, next fall but not before it hosts one last playoff series.
Breanne Wilson-Bennett netted the game-winner on Saturday after she finished off a rebounded shot from rookie Bailey Larson.
Rando recorded 32 stops in the game for her ninth victory of the season.
Colgate gave Rando, Katelyn Parker and Nicole Gass a senior day they will never forget.
