POTSDAM, N.Y. – Colgate’s only lead of the game was the only one that mattered.
Megan Sullivan (Toronto, Ontario) scored a rebound goal just 1:18 into overtime to lift the No. 5/5 Raiders to a 4-3 victory over No. 2/2 and defending national champion Clarkson Friday night.
Colgate never led until the finish but answered every Clarkson goal with a goal of its own in a see-saw affair. The Raiders got the break they needed when Clarkson’s Loren Gabel was penalized for checking with three seconds left in regulation.
That meant the Raiders were on the power play for nearly two minutes to begin overtime, and Colgate took advantage to deal the Golden Knights their first loss of the season and first loss at Cheel Arena in 13 games dating to last season. The Raiders win also snaps Clarkson’s 24-game unbeaten streak dating back to Jan. 20, 2017.
The Raiders controlled the puck for the entirety of overtime but it took more than a minute for the winning chance to make itself available. Olivia Zafuto (Niagara Falls, New York) fired on net from the point and Clarkson’s Ella Shelton made the block.
But the puck caromed directly left to Sullivan, who had nothing but netting in front of her. The senior didn’t miss and scored her third goal of the season, officially at 1:18 of the overtime session.
The Raiders scored in each of the three periods of regulation, tying the score every time. Bailey Larson (Sycamore, Illinois) found the net at the 13:00 mark of the first period for her third goal of the season.
Annika Zalewski (New Hartford, New York) scored her first of the year, this one on the power play, to make it 2-2 at 6:24 of the second. And then Malia Schneider (Millarville, Alberta) tied it for the third and final time when she scored a power-play goal 1:22 into the third.
For Schneider, it was her fifth goal of the season to move into second place on the team in that category.
Julia Vandyk (Cambridge, Ontario) and the Raider defense held the defending champs scoreless the rest of the way to earn Vandyk her second win of the year in as many starts. The junior registered 22 saves.
Bottom Line
• Colgate 4, Clarkson 3 (OT)
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improved to 7-0-0 overall and 1-0-0 in ECAC Hockey.
• Clarkson is now 7-1-1 and 0-1.
Key Raider Info
• Colgate is 7-0-0 for the first time in program history.
• The Raiders also tied their best all-time winning streak, matching the seven in a row won last season during the team’s 12-0-1 start.
• Colgate’s winning streak is the second longest in the nation behind Wisconsin (10 games) and the third longest unbeaten streak behind Wisconsin and Ohio State (8 games).
• Colgate with the win snapped a four-game losing streak to Clarkson.
• Colgate’s win over No. 2 Clarkson is the highest-ranked opponent the Raiders’ have ever defeated.
• The overtime win was Colgate’s second in as many weeks and first overtime win on the road since the last trip to the North Country and a 4-3 win at St. Lawrence on Jan. 20, 2017.
• The Raiders are one of four unblemished teams left in the country and one of six unbeaten teams.
• But the Raiders did win for the second time in their last three trips to Potsdam. Colgate prevailed 4-3, also in overtime, during its 2015-16 trip to the North Country.
• The Raiders have scored at least three goals in every game this season and have outscored their opposition 28-9 for an average of four goals per game.
Facts and Figures
• Lauren Wildfang assisted on Colgate’s first, second and fourth goals to match her career-high with three assists, also done on Nov. 4, 2016 at RIT.
• Single Colgate assists went to Breanne Wilson-Bennett, Bailey Larson, Jessie Eldridge, Shelby Perry and Zafuto.
• Eldridge extended her point streak to seven games with her assist.
• Perry’s helper was her eighth of the season and fifth straight game with an assist
• Schneider extended her own point streak to six games with her game-tying goal early in the third period
• Wilson-Bennett also extended her point streak, pushing it to four games with her assist.
• Larson tallied her first two-point game of the season Friday night.
• The Raiders scored three goals on six power-play chances, while Clarkson was 2-of-3.
• Friday marked Colgate’s first game with three power-play goals since Nov. 22, 2016 in a 4-2 win at Mercyhurst.
• Shots were nearly even (26-25 Raiders), as were faceoffs (33-29 Clarkson).
• Gabel scored Clarkson’s first two goals, both in the opening period. Cassidy Vinkle added a power-play goal in the second.
• Vandyk now has 33 career wins, moving into sole possession of third in program history.
From the Source
Head Coach Greg Fargo
“We played a good game tonight overall. Our veteran group really showed tonight in many ways. There was a lot of composure on our bench through some of the ups and downs of the game and I thought our level of play got better as the game went on.
“In the end, we had a lot of fight and found a way to win. We’ve got to turn the page and get ready for another test tomorrow and keep improving.”
Up Next
• It doesn’t get any easier. Colgate completes its two-game North Country road trip with a 3 p.m. start Saturday at No. 7/8 St. Lawrence.
• The Saints dropped to 2-3-2 Friday night after losing 3-1 at home to Cornell.
