BOX SCORE

HAMILTON, N.Y. (1/21/12) – The 18th-ranked Colgate men's hockey team took a lead into the third period, but couldn't hold off Dartmouth and the Big Green scored 2:17 into overtime to beat the Raiders, 5-4, at Starr Rink.

Colgate (12-9-2, 6-5-1 ECAC) got goals from four different skaters, including Austin Smith recording a goal and an assist for two points. Kurtis Bartliff, Joe Wilson and Matt Firman also added scores with Bartliff's coming shorthanded. Chris Wagner finished with two points on a pair of helpers. Alex Evin got the start in net and made 23 stops.

Dartmouth (8-8-2, 5-5-1 ECAC) saw Doug Jones come through with the gamewinner and he also added a pair of helpers for three points on the night. Mark Goggin, Eric Robinson, Charlie Mosey and Matt Lindblad also scored goals for the Big Green. Connor Goggin tallied two helpers to lead in the assist column and Mosey recorded an assist as well for two points. James Mello earned the win with 24 saves in net.

The Raiders earned the first lead, 2:40 into the opening period on their eighth shorthanded goal of the season. Dartmouth was setting up at the blueline and Bartliff cut in and intercepted a pass and went off the races for a breakaway. He was able to stay on his feet long enough to beat Mello after being taken down from behind. It was Bartliff's third of the season and first since scoring in the Omaha Stampede Championship.

The Big Green was able to kill off a Colgate penalty in the final five minutes of the period and then was able to tie the game with 40 seconds left in the first frame. Mosey made a pass across the crease to Eric Neiley and he got the puck on net, but Evin stretched out and made a great save. Unfortunately, for the Raiders the puck came free to Mark Goggin. Smith tried to make the save as Evin was still on the ice from the first shot. He got a piece of the puck, but it trickled across the line for the 1-1 tie.

The second period was played evenly for the first 17:30 and then Colgate took over with a flurry of three goals in the final 2:30 of the frame. Wilson started the scoring surge with his fifth of the season with 2:27 left in the period. Smith found the freshman along the end boards and he skated cleanly into the slot and beat Mello with a screened shot to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.

It took just 18 seconds for Colgate to increase its lead to two goals. Austin Mayer and John Lidgett did a great job behind the net and Lidgett got a shot on Mello that he kicked aside. However, Firman was right there for the rebound for his fourth of the year to make it 3-1. Smith then got in the scoring column as he received a pass from McPherson from across the crease. He roofed it past Mello for his 24th of the year with 22 seconds remaining in the second and Colgate took a 4-1 lead into the third. The Raiders scored three goals on 11 shots in the period.

The Big Green came out in the third period ready to play and scored two goals in the first 1:35 to cut the lead down to 4-3. Eric Robinson was first to slice the Raider advantage down to 4-2, just 21 seconds into the final frame. He was passing the puck and it hit a Colgate skate or stick and lifted into the net. Mosey then put home the Big Green's third goal to cut the lead to one.

Colgate held off Dartmouth until Lindblad knotted the score at 4-4 with 4:36 remaining in the game. Jones took a shot from close range that Evin stopped, but Jones was able to get his own rebound. He then slipped pass over to Lindblad at the far post and he put the puck in the top of the net to send it into the extra frame.

The teams were playing up-and-down the ice for most of the overtime and Dartmouth was able to score the gamewinner on a tip-in with 2:43 remaining. Mike Keenan shifted a pass to Connor Goggin and he put the puck on net. Jones was in front and redirected the shot into the net for the 5-4 win.

The shots were even with 28 apiece and both teams went scoreless on the power play. Colgate had five opportunities, while Dartmouth was awarded four chances.

The Raiders will be back in action on Friday night against ninth-ranked Cornell at 7:30 p.m. at Lynah Rink. The game will be live on CBS Sports Network.

NOTES: The teams combined for nine different goal scorers … it was Colgate's first OT loss of the season … each team scored three goals in a period … Evin made his first start since a win over St. Lawrence on Dec. 3 … Wagner extended his point streak to five games and has eight points in those games, including three multi-point games … Smith has scored a goal in 16 games this season and leads the nation with 24 on the year … Wagner reached 30 points with the four points this weekend, which is second in the conference.