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Bob Cornell

Men's Ice Hockey

Smith Nets Two in Final Minutes to Lift Raiders

Austin Smith tallied his sixth multi-goal game of the season and led the nation in goals with 17 at the end of the game.
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HAMILTON, N.Y. (12/2/11) –
Austin Smith tallied his sixth multi-goal game of the season, with both coming in the final minutes to lead the No. 14/15 Colgate men's hockey team to a 4-2 win over Clarkson on Friday night.

The Raiders (10-4-1, 5-2-0 ECAC) scored three goals after going down 2-1 early in the third period and extended their win streak to four games. In addition to Smith's two tallies, Jeremy Price and Spiro Goulakos each added a pair helpers in the win. Chris Wagner and Robbie Bourdon factored in the scoring as both netted power play goals. Both goals came on 5-on-3 advantages. Eric Mihalik pushed aside 25 shots to earn his seventh win of the season.

The Golden Knights (8-6-3, 2-4-1 ECAC) got goals from Jarrett Burton and Joe Zarbo, while netminder Paul Karpowich made 39 stops, including 28 in the final two periods

With the game tied at 2-2 late in the third, Smith was able to put the team on his back and score two late goals to propel the Raiders to the win. His first came with 3:18 remaining in the game and was the gamewinner. Mike McCann was able to disrupt a Clarkson pass in the neutral zone and Smith swooped in to collect the puck. He broke into the zone on a 2-on-1 and decided not to pass. It was a great choice as he beat Karpowich with a great sniper shot to give Colgate the lead at 3-2.

He then added an empty netter with eight seconds remaining to seal the win for the Raiders. Austin Mayer stole the puck from a Clarkson attacker just inside the blueline and shot the puck wide on the empty net chance. After the puck hit the end boards, Smith hustled to the loose puck, beat one Golden Knight defender and stuffed home his 17th goal of the season that gave the Raiders the 4-2 win.

Clarkson took the first lead of the game with Burton scoring 3:25 into the game. He received a drop pass from Mitch Zion and beat Mihalik for the 1-0 lead. Colgate then fired back with a 5-on-3 goal from Wagner. Price and Goulakos connected on a pass at the blueline and Price worked the puck down to Wagner on the endline. The sophomore skated up to the top of slot and flipped a shot on net that Karpowich couldn't handle and the game was knotted at 1-1.

The scored stayed that way through the third period as the teams went scoreless in the second frame. Colgate had a couple chances beat Karpowich but the puck rang off the post, including a wrister from Mayer from the right wing.

Before Smith changed the game, the Colgate Knights had a 2-1 lead thanks to a goal from Zarbo. He skated in from the defensive blueline, beat a Colgate defender and hit the perfect spot to beat Mihalik under the crossbar for the lead. The Raiders then tallied three unanswered goals for the win.

The Raiders scored two power play goals on the night in six opportunities, while Clarkson went scoreless on four chances with the extra man. The Raiders outshot the Golden Knights 43-27, including 17-7 in the decisive third period.

Colgate will be back at Starr Rink to face St. Lawrence, who lost to Cornell 1-0 tonight. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES: At the end of the game, Smith led the nation in goals with 17 and in gamewinning goals with five on the season … his 17 goals equal Francois Brisebois last season, which was the highest goal total in 42 games in 2010-11 … he tallied his sixth multi-goal of the season and 13th of his career … he joins the 60-60 club with 60 goals and 66 assists in his career … Colgate has killed off 18-straight power plays at home … Colgate is 7-1-0 on Friday nights this season … the Raiders score four goals for the third-straight game and are 7-0-0 when scoring four or more goals … Colgate is now 10-2-0 when leading or tied going into the third period … two power play goals for the Raiders for the fifth time this year … On Dec. 2 of last year, Colgate was 2-9-1 … Goulakos and Price tied season-highs with two helpers apiece and it was the third time for the rookie from Montreal … it was Smith 33rd career game with at least two points … Colgate is the first league team to 10 wins and has 10 points in league play for second place.
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