HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/25/06) – The Colgate University women’s ice hockey team scored two goals in the second period to upend No. 5 St. Lawrence 3-2 on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Starr Rink.

 

St. Lawrence started off strong, keeping the puck in the Colgate zone and peppering the net with shots.  In the first 7:37, the Saints put nine shots on net and had eight off frame before the Raiders called a timeout following a Colgate infraction at 12:23.

 

With three seconds remaining on the St. Lawrence power-play Crystal Connors was able to put the Saints on the scoreboard.  Defenseman Annie Guay took a shot from the top of the right face-off circle that was saved by Brook Wheeler (Brussels, Ont.) but rebounded back out onto the ice where Connors was able to put it over the blocker of Wheeler at 9:34.

 

Sophomore Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.) tied the game up with a short-handed marker, her first of the year, when she rifled a slap shot from the blue line that went over the shoulder of Meaghan Guckian at 16:36.  Junior Mallory Johnston (Chatham, Ont.) and freshman Marissa Dombovy (Webster, N.Y.) were credited with assists in setting up the play.

 

Colgate soon settled into it skates, but the shot deficit stood at 16-1 in favor of the Saints at the close of the first frame.

 

Freshman Katie Stewart (Exeter, Ont.) gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead at 5:49 of the second.  With help from Dombovy and senior Tara French (Truro, N.S.), Stewart collected the puck at the checkered red and skated in on net, deking her defender on the right side, which also threw off Guckian who moved to cover the right side of the net, but Stewart took the puck to the opposite side of the net and had a clean shot.

 

With just under two minutes remaining in the second stanza, Colgate expanded its lead.  Defenders Johnston and French connected and French settled the puck to Dombovy in the neutral zone.  Dombovy skated into the offensive end and sent a wrist shot that deflected off a defender and went five-hole on Guckian at 18:01 for what would be the eventual game winner.

 

The second period was more balanced, as the Raiders had a 10-7 edge in shots on goal.  The third continued to be an evenly-played until the final few minutes when St. Lawrence, sensing the urgency, started to take charge.

 

Guckian kept eyeing the bench, waiting to be beckoned, but the Saints couldn’t get complete control of the puck.  St. Lawrence looked to be in even more trouble when Chelsea Grills was called for body checking at 16:22.

 

On the opening face off, Hunt won the draw against Sabrina Harbec, but 18 seconds later Brittaney Maschmeyer stripped Colgate off the puck and passed to Guay.  Guay swung the puck to Harbec who sent a high shot that tucked up under the cross bar at 16:40 for a short-handed goal, bringing to the Saints within one.

 

The face off at center ice was won by Colgate’s Dombovy which kept Guckian in the net.  Finally with 1:19 left on the clock she was replaced with an extra attacker as a face off was taken low in the Raider zone.  The Saints won the draw and had time for just three shots, one of which was on net but was stopped by Wheeler.

 

Wheeler made 33 saves for Colgate, while Guckian turned away 14, as St. Lawrence outshot Colgate 35-17 in the contest.

 

Colgate travels to Union/Rensselaer on Dec. 1-2.  The Raiders will square off with the Dutchwomen on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., before facing the Engineers on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.