DURHAM, N.H. (10/14/07) – Colgate University freshman goaltender Lisa Plenderleith (Ajax, Ont.) made 41 saves in her collegiate debut as the Raiders fell 1-0 to No. 3/4 New Hampshire on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Whittemore Center.

 

It was the most saves made by a Colgate goalie in her first career game since Jen Burtaw made 44 stops against St. Lawrence in 1999.

 

The two teams played nearly 58 minutes of scoreless hockey, as Colgate did a great job of keeping UNH at bay by forecheck and by clearing the puck out of the zone. The Wildcats outshot the Raiders 14-3 in the first period and 17-7 in the second, and Colgate had 13 shots to UNH’s 11 in the final period.

 

Plenderleith made a sliding save to stop a one-on-one with Jenn Wakefield five minutes in, and made a glove grab on a Courtney Birchard shot at 13:14. She stopped another Birchard one-on-one effort about three minutes later.

 

Colgate’s penalty killing unit was tested three times during opening frame. The first go around, the Raiders did a good job of keeping UNH from getting many chances, allowing just one shot on goal and the only time the Wildcats could set up in formation resulted in a shot wide left. During the second UNH power play, Plenderleith turned away a shot with her blocker after losing her stick and recovered quickly to take another shot in the breadbasket.

 

Senior Kate Wolgemuth (Anchorage, Alaska) and junior Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.) both had short-handed shots on goal for the Raiders. Hunt picked up the puck in the neutral zone and with three UNH skaters failing to keep up, she released a shot that was saved by the outstretched glove of Kayley Herman.

 

Sam Faber gave UNH its first chance of the second period when she intercepted a puck but her shot was saved by Plenderleith.

 

The Raiders easily set up in power-play formation on their first power play of the period and nearly snuck the puck between Herman and near the post at 11:30.

 

Plenderleith stopped a redirect by Steph Holmes right out front before Colgate was called for a penalty. Following the face off, Kacey Bellamy was right on top of the net and tried to poke the puck across the line but Plenderleith made a pad save and then made a stick save on the other side of the net.

 

Colgate was called for cross checking on the play which left the Raiders two players down. Colgate killed off both penalties and then went on the power play seconds later when UNH was called for slashing. Senior Mallory Johnston (Chatham, Ont.) gave Colgate two scoring chances when she took a slap shot from the left side that was saved by the stick of Herman and another shot from the right side that slid just wide of the net. Nicole

 

Sophomore Nicole McDonald (Calgary, Alta.) and junior Elin Brown (Calgary, Alta.) also had quality scoring opportunities for the Raiders.

 

Brown continued to battle with the net when she had the first chance of the third period, but Herman made a stick save to thwart the short-handed shot. Junior Laura Jansen (Wilmette, Ill.) had a chance just four minutes in and seconds later Plenderleith had to make a left leg save on a Stephanie Marty shot.

 

Colgate was forced to play with just four players after a player was delivered a five-minute major and a game misconduct for hitting from behind at 9:48 of the third. The Raiders caught a break when Katie Stewart’s (Exeter, Ont.) defender was called for holding as she was making her way to the net at 12:40, but it was short lived as the Raiders were called for a slash at 13:44. UNH has a chance on the 4-on-3, as a shot popped up and landed in front of the open net but the Wildcat couldn’t get the shot off as a whistle blew for a face off.

 

Sophomore Marissa Dombovy (Webster, N.Y.) almost put the puck away with four minutes left but couldn’t get it past the glove side of Herman.

 

The Wildcats called a timeout with 2:10 remaining in regulation as Colgate received a penalty. With another Raider having eight seconds left on her penalty and a Wildcat with 11 seconds on her infraction, it left UNH with a 4-on-3 advantage.

 

With the face off won by Kelly Paton on the left side, she swung the puck back to Kacey Bellamy. Bellamy sent the puck to Martine Garland and Garland found Faber on the right side of the net. Seeing an opening Faber flicked the puck towards the net and it deflected as her stick collided with Plenderleith’s and the puck went high into the back of the net at 2:01.

 

Colgate called timeout with 59 seconds left and pulled Plenderleith, but its only chances were a shot wide and a shot blocked.

 

Herman finished the night with 23 stops.

 

Colgate (0-2) hosts Providence in the home opener on Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.