Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (01/07/12) – The Colgate women's hockey team secured its third ECAC Hockey win of the season on Saturday afternoon when it defeated Union 2-1 in overtime at Messa Rink.
 
Sophomore Taylor Volpe scored the game-winning goal in overtime with an assist from senior co-captain Amanda Kirwan, while junior Brittany Phillips scored the Raiders' opening goal.
 
After both dropping league matchups on Friday, both teams came out looking to take an early lead as they searched for the opening goal. Colgate (8-11-1, 3-5-1 ECAC Hockey) had a couple of close opportunities in the opening minutes and despite having the first power play opportunity midway through the frame, the team could not get on the scoreboard. Union then earned an extra skater advantage of its own later in the period but at the end of the first 20 minutes of play neither team had found the back of the net.
 
The Dutchwomen came into the second period playing a more aggressive game, which resulted in three penalties being called against them. However, even after earning three power play opportunities in the stanza, the Raiders could not find a way to capitalize on the advantages, resulting in yet another scoreless 20 minutes of play. Colgate outshot the Dutchwomen 14-8 in the second frame.
 
It was not until the third period that both teams were able to break the 41-minute dry spell. The Raiders got on the scoreboard first with an unassisted goal from Phillips just 1:56 into the stanza to give her team the 1-0 lead. Colgate then held the advantage for the next eight minutes, during which Union was able to find its shooting momentum and eventually get on the scoreboard with a power play goal from Rhianna Kurio at the 9:33 mark to tie the game at 1-1 and send it into overtime.
 
The Dutchwomen came out to an attacking start in the extra period, firing a trio of shots at the net but could not get past Colgate's defense, which blocked all three attempts. An interference penalty on Union at the 1:12 mark then gave the Raiders their eighth power play opportunity of the game. After a series of shots, Colgate was finally able to find the game-winner from Volpe with just two seconds left in the extra skater advantage to give the Raiders their third league win.
 
Senior Kimberly Sass had 25 saves for Colgate while Kate Gallagher had 29 stops for the Dutchwomen. The Raiders went 1-for-8 on the power play while Union scored on one of its three extra skater opportunities.
 
Colgate will return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 10 with a league matchup against nationally-ranked Cornell at 7 p.m. in Ithaca, N.Y.