TROY, N.Y. – No. 10 Colgate Women’s Hockey got back in the win column following a one-game hiatus here Friday night after recording a 5-3 win over Rensselaer.
Five different Raider student-athletes added to their season points total with goals in the game. Leading the way was Olivia Zafuto, Annika Zalewski and Shelby Perry, who all posted two points on the night.
The hosts jumped in front at the 4:01 mark of the opening period to take the early 1-0 edge.
Colgate wasted little time trailing though answering with the equalizer three minutes later. Nicole Gass tallied her third goal of the season thanks to help from rookies Jessie Eldridge and Chelsea Jacques.
Another three minutes after that, the Raiders took their first lead in the game when Zafuto and Zalewski teamed up following a great play
The Raiders took that 2-1 advantage into the break but just 7:29 into the middle frame RPI knotted the score at 2-all.
A few minutes later, Colgate was called for hooking which awarded the hosts a power play opportunity. The Engineers converted with just 15 seconds remaining on the man-up advantage to pull back in front 3-2.
A short 49 seconds later, the Raiders again tied the game this time thanks to the stick of Kayla Haus. Perry and Hannah Rastrick combined to find Haus for her second marker of the year.
Colgate then controlled much of the final frame scoring the only two goals of the period to ultimately secure the win. Zalewski posted her team-leading fifth power play goal of the season, before Breanne Wilson-Bennett registered an insurance marker midway through.
First-Year Julia Vandyk improved her season record to an impressive 10-1-3, with her only loss coming at the hands of No. 5 Clarkson last weekend.
The Raiders have a quick turnaround as they close out the weekend with a 4 p.m. contest at Union on Saturday. Live stats will be available at the start.
Bottom Line
• #10 Colgate 5, RPI 3
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improves to 15-5-7 overall and 7-3-5 in ECAC Hockey play.
• RPI drops to 8-13-4 and 6-7-2, respectively.
Key Raider Info
• Gass, Zafuto, Haus, Zalewski and Wilson-Bennett all added to their season goals total.
• Megan Sullivan recorded a team-high five shots.
• Nine different Raider players notched points in the contest.
Raider Goals
• 1st period: Gass, assisted by Eldridge and Jacques; Zafuto, assist to Zalewski.
• 2nd period: Haus, from Perry and Rastrick.
• 3rd period: Zalewski, with assists to Zafuto and Perry; Wilson-Bennett (unassisted)
Facts & Figures
• Colgate finished the night 1-for-1 on the power play, while RPI went 1-for-5.
• The Raiders also slightly outside their hosts 29-24.
• Vandyk posted 21 stops, including 10 in the final frame. She now has 322 in her young career.
From The Source
• Head coach Greg Fargo (on the game) “I thought we battled hard tonight when we needed to most. There were good responses all night from our group. We got down early in the game and came back to gain the 2-1 lead. We went down again in the second period and battled back nearly taking the lead again before the end of the second period but unfortunately had a goal called back. And yet again in the third, we came out determined and our power play got us a big goal to ultimately take the advantage. We did a great job down the stretch to add an insurance goal and then killed off a couple penalties toward the end of the game.
“Overall, we would like to have a better 60-minute effort but I’m really happy with the resiliency our group showed today. We found a way and that’s important.”
Up Next
• Colgate travels to Union on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest with the Dutchwomen.
• Live stats will be available at the start.
