Box Score

BOSTON – Colgate's defense is on a roll and picking up steam.

The Raiders stood firm in front of the goal when it counted here Saturday and captured their first road victory of the season, 7-5 over a feisty Boston University squad.

"As stagnant as our offense was early on, we really needed our defense to step up," Colgate head coach Mike Murphy said. "If it was going to be a one-goal game, we needed them to score one fewer goal than we did.

"Any time you're on the road in the Patriot League, it's going to be a battle."

Colgate found that out from the start when its two early goals did little to deter BU's first-year varsity program. Brendon McCann and Kevin Adams put the Raiders on top 2-1 in the first 5½ minutes, but the Terriers soon tied it and then a stalemate took hold.

Lengthy Scoring Slide
The last 4:34 of the first quarter and the entire second quarter went scoreless, leaving the halftime tied at 2-2. Boston U. scored with 9:01 left in the third for a 3-2 lead, but Colgate finally answered when Matt Clarkson (pictured right) fired hard and high with 5:42 showing in the same period. Credit Eric Foote with the assist that drew the Raiders even.

"We finally got the offense going and moved the ball a couple of times to the backside," Clarkson said. "Eric threw it over the top and I just went high. The scouting report was the kid was good low, so we had to bring it high on him."

For the Raiders, the scoring drought had stretched 33 minutes and 49 seconds. And yet when Clarkson found goal, it was 3-3 thanks to Colgate scintillating and stifling defenders.

"Our job as a defense is to always keep our team in a position to win," said Kevin Boyle (pictured below right), who caused three turnovers and picked up four ground balls. "I'm really proud of the guys underneath – Bobby Lawrence, John Baker, Leo Stouros and Brandon Burke did a great job and made our job easier as defensive midfielders.

"When they can pretty much neutralize the attack, it helps us a lot."

Lawrence tied his career high with five caused turnovers to go with five ground balls. The senior leads the team with 13 caused turnovers for the season.

"It's a few games in now and we're starting to get some chemistry on defense," Lawrence said. "Everybody's playing really well. They're upping their game, talking really well, communicating and putting the ball on the ground. Hopefully, we can just keep it going.

"We're starting to get more comfortable with our stick-checks, when to double and when not to, when to slide and when not to – and that all just forces turnovers."

Clearing Also Precise
Colgate pestered Boston University into 18 turnovers, nine each half. And the Raiders cleared the ball 19 times in 20 opportunities. Finally over the game's last 20 minutes, Colgate's offense found life.

McCann and Clarkson scored their second goals of the game to end the third quarter and start the fourth, pushing the Raiders in front 5-3 with 13:06 remaining. Clarkson's goal was a fortunate carom off his stick as Ryan Walsh was trying to find him in the slot.

"It bounced off my stick and I got lucky," Clarkson said. "They had one just like it (in the first period), so we got one back. I'd rather be lucky than good, I guess."

The Terriers drew one back but then Colgate answered with two more as Walsh and Adams found the net to make it 7-4 with 5:41 left. Colgate held on from there despite a fifth goal of the game by Boston University's Ryan Johnston.

"I'm very proud of our two senior captains," Murphy said. "Kevin Boyle and Bobby Lawrence really set the tone, Brandon made some huge saves and our two young guys, Leo Stouros and John Baker, are playing better.

"It's unfortunate that their guy, No. 45 (Johnston), is John's cover. He scored all of their goals, but I'm not sure some of those were John's fault. John played well and our close defense as a whole played well."

Colgate had the edge in shots by 32-21, and groundballs by 26-21. The Raiders committed 14 turnovers to BU's 18, but faceoffs went to the Terriers by a 10-5 count. Colgate with an extra man was 1-of-7 and Boston University 2-of-4.

Burke finished with seven saves in goal for the Raiders and allowed just three even-strength goals. The freshman entered the game leading the Patriot League in both save percentage and goals-against average.

Colgate assists went to McCann, Foote, Walsh and Alex Kinnealey. Walsh, as mentioned, scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season and extended his active point-scoring streak to 39 games – fourth-best in the nation.

Thank the Defense
McCann's two goals moved him to second on the team with 13 points to 19 for Walsh.

"You've just got to thank the defense on days like today when you go through that," McCann (pictured above right) said. "Burke was great in net and our whole D – they were animals out there. When you get as many caused turnovers and play as well as they did, it's not that hard to put enough on the board.

"But we've just got to be able to start sooner than we have been. We've got to put together a full 60 minutes."

Murphy (pictured right) agrees and knows the Raiders were perhaps a little lucky to leave Boston 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League.

"BU's Ryan Polley is doing a good job with his kids, and we're fortunate to leave here with a victory," he said. "We've got to find some answers offensively. Sometimes you've got to shoot the scouting report. We've got smart guys and we as coaches are trying to give them the answers to the test, so they've got to understand what we're trying to do as a staff.

"We've got to really buckle down offensively and continue to turn the screws defensively."

Boston University drops to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

The Raiders swing back into the Central New York rivalry pool next Saturday at Binghamton. Start time is 1 p.m.