Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. (1/12/07) – Colgate junior goaltender Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.) stopped every shot he faced, but thanks to a fluke goal 17 seconds into the game the Raiders had to settle for a 1-1 tie with No. 9 Clarkson on Friday, Jan. 12, at Cheel Arena.

Freshman Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) netted the tying goal with 5:14 left in regulation off a heads-up, cross-ice feed from junior Dustin Gillanders (Kyle, Sask.). Sophomore Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) also assisted on the play.

On Clarkson’s next trip down the ice, Dekanich made a stop on the goal line to preserve the tie. Raider sophomore Nick St. Pierre (St. Etienne, Que.) took a penalty on an ensuing tussle behind the net, but Dekanich and the Raider penalty kill managed to stymie the second-best power play in the nation to force overtime.

Clarkson earned a 1-0 lead 17 seconds into the game on a fluke bounce off the end boards. Sophomore Philippe Paquet dumped the puck into the corner, and Dekanich came out to play it, but the puck found a seam in the boards near the zamboni entrance and bounced directly in front of the net. A Raider defenseman attempted to clear, but junior Steve Zalewski picked up the puck and deposited it into the open net.

Neither team’s defense blinked in the second period. Clarkson matched its first-period shot total with seven. Colgate also got seven shots, all of which came during the second half of the session. During a late-period rush by the Golden Knights, Dekanich made a save, gave up the rebound, and prevented a goal by diving across the goal mouth to stop a shot from the right faceoff circle.

Dekanich finished the game with 28 stops, including three in the final 22 seconds of overtime. Clarkson junior David Leggio posted 21 saves as Colgate snapped the Golden Knights’ winning streak at seven games. Raider junior Jesse Winchester (Long Sault, Ont.) won 13 of his 19 faceoff attempts, but Colgate lost the overall battle in the circle, 30-27.

The Raiders make the cross-town trip to St. Lawrence to complete the ECACHL weekend on Saturday, Jan. 13, starting at 7:00 p.m. Live audio, video and statistics are all available for the game; links can be found on the official Colgate athletics website, www.goColgateRaiders.com.