HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/22/08) –  Austin Smith (Dallas, Texas) posted his second career multi-point collegiate game and Charles Long (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) made 30 saves as Colgate battled to a 2-2 draw with 18th-ranked Harvard, in ECAC men's hockey action Saturday evening at Starr Rink.

 

With the tie, Colgate moved to 4-4-2 overall and 1-2-2 in league play.  It marked the second 2-2 tie against a nationally-ranked opponent in a weeks time.  The Raiders tied #14 Cornell 2-2 last Saturday in Ithaca.  Harvard's record is now 4-3-2 overall and in league play.

 

“I was very pleased with the effort tonight,” said Colgate head coach Don Vaughan.  “The bench was feeling pretty good early after getting the lead.  Harvard got two to tie it up, but we continued to fight hard and remained composed.

 

“We had four or five very good opportunities that we couldn't cash in on, two in the closing minute” continued Vaughan.  “I thought Austin Smith was out best player on the ice.  He had a lot of jump in him and it may have been his best game he has played thus far at Colgate.  Austin is a very talented player and I'm looking forward to seeing many more like this one.”

 

After a scoreless opening 13:30, Colgate tallied two goals in a 38-second span to gain a two-goal lead.  Smith banged in his fourth goal of the year amongst a crowd in front of the net at 13:40 from Jason Fredricks (Eagle River, Wisc.) and David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.).

 

Not too much later, Smith and Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) teamed with Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) at 14:18.  The sophomore posted his first of the year as he beat freshman David Hoyle from the left side of the cage.  Colgate went into intermission holding a 2-0 advantage.

 

Harvard cut the deficit to 2-1 as Daniel Moriarty beat Long from the left side at 4:08 of the second.

 

The Crimson squared the game at 2-2 at 10:12 of the third as Alex Killorn flung a shot in the air from outside and landed in the back of the net.  It was the freshman's second of the season.

 

Hoyle forced overtime by saving two golden opportunities in the closing minute.  The freshman stopped Smith on a breakaway and a rebound by Williams to extend the game an additional five minutes.

 

Long stopped 13 Crimson shots in the final 20-minute period and then made three saves in the overtime session.  Hoyle was credited with 28 saves on the evening.

Both teams failed on four power play attempts.

 

Colgate returns to the action Friday and Saturday evening as it travels to the Rocky Mountains to square off with a pair of nationally-ranked opponents in 10th-ranked Denver and third-ranked Colorado College.  Opening face-off Friday against DU from Magness Arena is set for 7:35 p.m. Mountain Time.