ON TAP THIS WEEK: After posting its first win of the year, Colgate will play three games this week beginning Wednesday evening as it hosts UAlbany. Game time is set for 6 p.m. After that game, the Raiders will take to the road and play six consecutive road games. The trip begins Saturday in Smithfield, R.I. as Colgate will play Bryant and then continues Sunday when the Raiders clash with Siena in Loudonville, N.Y. The Raiders will play four consecutive Patriot League road games before wrapping up the regular-season with two home games in late October.
MEET THE COACH: Cathy Foto is in her 21st season at the helm of the Raider program. The West Hartford, Conn., native took over controls of the program back in the 1989 season. During her career at Colgate, she has accumulated a 145-200-7 record, including a 9-9 mark in 2008. A two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2004, Foto has coached several all-Patriot League selections and under her tutelage, eight student-athletes have combined to win 10 different PL awards – Tournament MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Goalie of the Year, or Rookie of the Year.
SERIES OVERVIEWS: Wednesday's meeting with UAlbany will be the ninth time the two programs have met on the field with the Great Danes holding a 5-3 all-time advantage. The two schools have met every year since 2000 with Colgate prevailing in 2001, 2004, and 2008. Almost a year to the date, On September 24, 2008, Colgate upset the #18 Great Danes 1-0 in Albany. Lauren Carey's goal at 54:03 stood up as Sarah Pedersen stopped 10 shots in the victory.
Colgate holds a 1-0 advantage over Bryant. The Raiders blanked the Bulldogs 5-0 at Tyler's Field after its victory over UAlbany. Colgate outshot Bryant 24-2. Four different Raiders scored, including Laura Flisnik posting a pair of goals. Maddie Watrobski and Mika Ella-Tang each had two assists.
Colgate holds a commanding 8-0 all-time lead versus Siena. The Raiders won last year's contest 5-1 to open the 2008 campaign. Colgate received goals from Mika Ella-Tang, Allison Waugh. Lauren Carey and two from Rebecca Anderson in the win. Sarah Pedersen saved three shots in 63:14 of work before coming out of the game.
LAST WEEKEND REVIEW: Colgate snapped a nine-game winless skid dating back to last year with a 5-0 blanking of St. Francis, Sunday afternoon. The Raiders upped their all-time record to 7-0 against the Red Flash and posted their fifth shutout of St. Francis all-time. Katelyn Nerbonne posted two goals and two assists for her third multi-goal game of her career and second versus St. Francis. Laura Denenga tallied her first multi-goal game with two scores and nearly converted the hat trick right before the first half ended. Sarah Pedersen saved three shots in 54:11 of work before coming out of the game. Denenga got her first goal of the year off a penalty corner in a 5-1 loss to visiting Lock Haven, Friday evening. The Bald Eagles, who took a 2-0 advantage into intermission, out shot Colgate 25-6 on the afternoon. Pedersen made 10 saves in the loss.
SCOUTING ALBANY: The Great Danes head into the match-up with a 5-2 mark and have out scored the opposition 14-3. Albany and Colgate have one common opponent in St. Francis (PA.) with the Great Danes prevailing 6-0. All three goals surrendered have come in the two losses to James Madison (2-1) and UMass (1-0). America East Rookie of the Week, Tegan Brown (5 goals, 10 points) leads the scoring attack. Jess Lindsey (two goals, 9 points) and Inge Baijens (two goals, five points) are off to solid starts. UAlbany uses a two-goalie system with both getting 245 minutes of playing time. Christine Hoffman (3-0, 0.29 GAA, 13 saves) has started all seven games, while Kristi Troch (2-2, 0.57 GAA, 7 saves) plays the second half.
SCOUTING BRYANT: Bryant currently stands 1-5 overall. It will have a 10-day layoff before playing Colgate. The Bulldogs dropped a 2-0 decision to Fairfield in their last outing. Bryant's only victory came against Lehigh (3-1). The only common opponent between the two schools is UMaine. The Bulldogs dropped a 4-0 result to the Black Bears in the season opener. Elise Boissoneau (three goals, seven points), Courtney Landi (three goals, six points), and Alexandra Czerniak (two goals, five points) are the top offensive threats thus far. Goalie Kundayi Mawema (1-5, 2.83 GAA, 52 Saves) has started every game in net.
SCOUTING SIENA: Siena is 1-6 overall and will have an 11-day lay-off before playing Colgate. In its last outing, the Saints dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to Holy Cross. Two other Siena games have gone extra time. The Saints fell to Longwood 2-1 in overtime and defeated UC Davis 2-1 in strokes for its only victory. Andrea Caso (two goals, six points), Caroline Hunnewell (two goals, four points), and Kristin McGorty (one goal, four points) are the top offensive threats. Renee Clavette (1-6, 3.13 GAA, 103 Saves) has started every game in net.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Two members of the Raiders posted their first collegiate points last weekend. In the loss to Lock Haven, Peyton Hawkins assisted on Laura Denenga's first goal of the year. It was the sophomore's first point of her career. In the victory over the Red Flash, Courtney Burke tipped in a shot by Denenga right before the end of the first half for her first career goal.
MOVING UP THE ALL-TIME LISTS: With her eight points on the season, Katelyn Nerbonne is inching her way to the top 10 all-time in points at Colgate. Her six-point afternoon versus St. Francis moved the senior into 13th place all-time with 53 points. Next on the list are Kath Shelley (55 – 12th) and Josette Wood (56 – 11th). Nerbonne's two assists moved her into a tie for 14th with 11 career helpers. Mika Ella-Tang is only two assists away from moving into the top 10 for a career at Colgate. The senior is now tied for 12th with Cindy Healey with 12 assists.
SOMETHING TO WATCH: With her victory over Saint Francis, Sarah Pedersen needs one more win in net to tie Julie Clark for fifth all-time with 19 career wins.
PICKED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL: The 2009 Patriot League Preseason Poll was released and Colgate was chosen to finish third according to head coaches and league SID contacts at respective institutions. The Raiders grabbed 34 points, seven points more than Bucknell. American copped nine of 12 first place votes and was the consensus favorite, while Lafayette was second in the voting with the other three first place votes.
PROMOTIONS: Wednesday's game with the Great Danes is a Rowdy Raiders Game. Free snow cones for students will be given out as long as supplies last. Sumo wrestling at half time.
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