Men's Ice Hockey 2/27/2010 10:11:43 PM

Long and Brisebois Lift Colgate Over #15 Union

Charles Long saved 34 in the victory over #15 Union

Final Box

HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/27/10) -- Junior forward Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) scored two goals and senior goaltender Charles Long (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) made 34 saves as Colgate completed a weekend sweep of the Capital District teams with a 5-2 win over 15th-ranked Union, Saturday night at Starr Rink.

The Raiders (15-13-6, 12-8-2 ECAC), who finished in fourth place, end the 2009-2010 regular season with their best ECAC finish since the 2005-06 season, when they tied Dartmouth for a share of the Cleary Cup. They also earned a bye in the first round of the ECAC Tournament and will host the best two-of-three game quarterfinal series at Starr Rink in two weeks.

With the win, Colgate stretched its unbeaten streak against the Dutchmen to 12 games. The Raiders are 11-0-1 versus Union during this stretch. Colgate also improved to 21-1-2 all-time versus the Dutchmen. Coupled with Friday's 3-2 victory over Rensselaer, it marks the second ECAC Hockey weekend sweep this season for the Raiders at Starr Rink.

Brisebois opened the scoring 52 seconds into the first period after firing a wrist shot past Union goalie Keith Kinkaid's glove side. The junior received a tip pass from senior forward David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) in the neutral zone and skated uncontested down the left side of the ice after a Union defenseman misread the play. For Brisebois, it was his 14th of the season. Freshman defenseman Nathan Sinz (Anchorage, AK) had a secondary assist on the play.

Brisebois almost created Colgate's second goal just minutes later after taking the puck and sending a pass to sophomore forward Austin Smith (Dallas, Texas) in the slot, who fired a close shot on goal that Kinkaid saved.

Union tied the game at 7:55 when Kyle Bodie fired a shot under the blocker of Long from the blue-line end of the face-off circle. Stephane Boileau had the assist.

Long would come up with a huge play later in the period after making a point-blank leg pad save on Wayne Simpson following a Colgate turnover. The score remained tied at one after the first period, with Colgate outshooting Union 13-8.

After Union was called for boarding early in the second period, Colgate took advantage by firing four shots on net during the power play. The third shot was a wrister from Robbie Bourdon (Ile Bizard, Que.) that Kinkaid robbed with his glove. The fourth shot produced a goal after sophomore forward Nick Prockow (Montreal, Que.) deflected in a shot from freshman defenseman Thomas Larkin (Cocquio Trevisago, Italy) at 4:04. Sophomore defenseman Kevin McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), who received an assist, began the play by firing a cross-ice pass to Larkin, who was waiting between the blue line and left face-off circle. The rookie then fired a slap shot at the net. With a defenseman on him, Prockow twisted around just in time to see the puck and deflect it past Kinkaid's stick side for the goal at 4:04 of the second period. It was Prockow's eighth goal of the year.

Freshman forward Kurtis Bartliff (Clinton, Ont.) put Colgate up 3-1 at 14:15 of the second period after putting a wrist shot past Kinkaid's stick side for his third of the year. The play began after Union forward Kelly Zakac fired a wild slap shot that caromed off the end boards and rolled up the side boards to Bartliff in the neutral zone. With a head of steam, the freshman controlled the puck and became part of a two-on-one, but he took care of business himself by putting the disc between Kinkaid's right leg pad and the post. The Raiders and Dutchmen each had 13 shots in the second period, and Colgate took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

Union pulled within one goal at 9:51 of the third period when Mario Valery-Trabucco fired a wrist shot between Long's glove and the post for his 21st of the year. Preceding the play, Union forward Jason Walters won a face-off to Long's right and the puck skirted towards a waiting Valery-Trabucco before his shot.

At 16:28, Long came up with the save of the game. Union forward John Simpson led an odd-man rush and took the puck down left-hand side of ice and passed across to Wayne Simpson on the back door, but Long adjusted well and came through with the body save on a Simpson shot just outside the crease.

Brisebois made the score 4-2 in Colgate's favor at 17:30 after taking a pass from Smith, skating through the slot, and firing a shot from left faceoff circle that went off the far pipe and in for his 15th of the year. Smith created the play after causing a turnover in the neutral zone.

McIntyre put the final nail in the coffin by scoring an empty-netter at 18:57 for his 11th of the season. Senior forward Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) collected the puck in the neutral zone and fired a pass to McIntyre, who averted two defenders and fired a clear shot at net for the final goal of the night.

Colgate's quarterfinal round opponent will be determined at the earliest next Saturday evening. The Raiders will play the highest seed remaining following ECAC Tournament first round games next weekend.

Games one and two of the quarterfinal round are set to take place at Starr Rink on Friday, March 12, and Saturday March 13. Game three, if necessary, will follow on Sunday, March 14.

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