Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. (3/10/06) - Seventh-seeded Quinnipiac (20-16-1) upset second-seeded Colgate (18-11-6) in the first game of the ECACHL quarterfinals, 3-0, on Friday, Mar. 10, at Starr Rink. The No. 17 Raiders must win the next two games to avoid elimination.

The shutout was the second straight for Colgate at Starr Rink. The Raiders also lost to Dartmouth, 3-0, in the regular-season home finale. Friday’s loss marked the first time in school history that Colgate has been shut out in back-to-back home games. It was also the first time Colgate was shut out in a home playoff game since it lost to Yale, 1-0, in the 1997 ECAC preliminary game.

Quinnipiac’s first goal came with just six seconds left in the first period. Michael Bordieri beat Colgate senior Kyle Wilson (London, Ont.) at the faceoff circle to the right of Raider netminder Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.). The puck came to Joe Dumais in the slot, and he one-timed the puck over Dekanich’s glove.

Colgate had four power-play opportunities in the second period, and outshot the Bobcats 10-6, but failed to convert despite a few quality chances. The Raiders finished the game 0-for-9 with the man advantage, and took 10 shots on the power play.

Five minutes into the third period, Quinnipiac got an insurance goal. David Marshall found Chris Myers in front, and he caught Dekanich out of position, putting his Bobcats up 2-0.

Seven minutes later, QU sealed the win. Wilson was skating the puck out of the defensive end when it hit the skate of Raider sophomore Mike Werner (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.) just inside the blue line. Brian Leitch picked it up and fed Ben Nelson for a one-timer that beat Dekanich low on the right side.

Bobcat freshman goalie Bud Fisher earned his third shutout of the season with 28 saves. Dekanich finished with 20 stops for the Raiders. Colgate outshot Quinnipiac 28-23, marking the first time this season that CU lost when outshooting its opponent.

The Raiders have not lost a home playoff series during head coach Don Vaughan’s tenure. The last time Colgate lost a home playoff series was in 1989. In both 2003 and 2004, the Raiders lost the first game of a best-of-three series only to go on to win the series.

Colgate faces a must-win situation on Saturday when the Bobcats return to Starr Rink for a 7:00 p.m., game. A Raider win will force a third game, which would be played Sunday at 7:00 p.m., while a Quinnipiac victory will propel the Bobcats into the semifinals of the ECAC championship next weekend at the Pepsi Arena in Albany.