Photo Gallery

HAMILTON – Colgate said hello to its 2016 home schedule with an 11-4 victory over Binghamton here Saturday.
 
Four Raiders found the netting for multiple goals, led by first-year attacker Sam Cleveland's hat trick. Anthony Abbadessa, Eric Foote and Chase Wittich added two goals apiece as Colgate posted a balanced attack throughout.
 
The Raiders scored three goals in each of the first three quarters before coasting home with two in the final 15 minutes.
 
Colgate's defense, meanwhile, limited Binghamton to just one second-half goal to help extend a 6-3 halftime advantage.
 
One week after being stung by a pair of late-period goals in a 9-8 setback at Michigan, Colgate scored twice Saturday in the closing seconds of the second and third quarters.
 
Wittich tallied just three seconds before the halftime horn to extend Colgate's lead to three goals, and then Tyler Rigo found the netting with seven seconds left in the third quarter. That goal highlighted a 5-0 closing finish for the Raiders.
 
Binghamton in its season opener received single goals from Sean Gilroy, Zach Scaduto, Tyler Deluca and Ben Kocis.
 
The Raiders begin Patriot League competition next Saturday, hosting Bucknell in a noon faceoff.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 11, Binghamton 4
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improved to 1-1.
• Binghamton opened its season 0-1.
 
Raider Scoring Recap
• The Raiders jumped in front 3-0 as Foote, Abbadessa and Cam Williams scored first-quarter goals. Abbadessa's was especially noteworthy – an over-the-shoulder shot while facing away from goal.
• After Binghamton narrowed the margin to 3-2, Cleveland got on the board for the first time Saturday with a rifle-shot from 13 yards away.
• Binghamton scored again but then Foote and Wittich closed the half with goals via Peter Donato assists. Colgate had eight assists on its 11 goals, and Donato was credited with three of them for a career high.
• Binghamton scored first to start the second half and make it a 6-4 game, but then it was all Raiders.
• Cleveland started and ended the closing 5-0 run, while Wittich, Rigo and Abbadessa found the netting in between.
 
Facts & Figures
• Colgate scored three consecutive goals to start the game and five straight to finish.
• Shots were fairly even, with Colgate claiming a 35-32 edge. Ground balls went Binghamton's way by a 22-15 count.
• The Bearcats won nine of 11 faceoffs in the first half, but Colgate turned the tables for a 5-3 margin in the second half. Collin Orr handled the second-half duties and finished 7-of-13 for the Raiders.
• Colgate completed 16 of 17 clears, while Binghamton was 14-of-16.
• No extra-man goals were scored. Colgate was 0-of-3 and Binghamton 0-of-2.
• Colgate's defense not only limited the Bearcats to one second-half goal but also forced 15 turnovers. The Raiders committed 10 after being charged for 16 last week at Michigan.
• Brandon Burke made nine saves and lowered his goals-against average for the season to 6.50. The junior's save percentage is now .567.
• Colgate goals were scored by Cleveland with 3, Abbadessa 2, Wittich 2, Foote 2 and single tallies from Williams and Rigo. Cleveland and Donato had 3 assists each, with first-years Will Blumenberg and Duncan Hoskinson both contributing their first collegiate assists.
• Wittich and Cleveland are tied for the early team lead with four goals apiece. Cleveland has seven points and Donato six to lead that category.
 
Turning Point
• After Binghamton's Deluca scored to make it a 3-2 game with 9:38 remaining in the second quarter, Colgate answered quickly.
• Cleveland took a pass from Hoskinson and unleashed a laser into the upper right corner from 13 yards out with 9:08 left before halftime.
• Colgate outscored Binghamton 2-1 the rest of the quarter for a 6-3 halftime edge, and then the Raiders completed dominated the second half.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Mike Murphy: (On the game) "We still need to play with a little bit better pace; it took us a little while to get going. But I like the production we got and I like that we were able to play some guys as we battle through some injuries.
 
"(Binghamton) is a team that returned a lot of power in the midfield, and I thought our guys did a great job of knuckling down when they needed to. We did a really good job in the clearing game, expecting their 10-man ride. We only failed once.
 
"We've got a long way to go as we get ready for Patriot League play, but I'm glad our guys got their first W of 2016."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Murphy's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate first-year attackman Sam Cleveland: (On his six-point game) "It was fun. We worked hard in practice this week. We struggled at Michigan working together as a team, but we came together in practice and really worked on moving the ball as a unit. The shots came to me and I liked it."
 
Listen to the rest of Cleveland's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate junior midfielder Peter Donato: (On good ball-movement) "That was one of our focuses coming into this game. We didn't think we were moving it fast enough at Michigan, and one of our focuses was to play fast and play together. Getting 11 goals was a good result for us."
 
Listen to the rest of Donato's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate junior goalkeeper Brandon Burke: (On his day) "The defense played well, keeping shots to the outside. In the second half, we really dug deep and did a good job. We played pretty good off-ball defense and supported each other."
 
Listen to the rest of Burke's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance inside Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium was 310.
 
Up Next
• Colgate opens Patriot League play next Saturday at home against Bucknell.
• The Raiders are riding a four-game winning streak against the Bison, including last year's 18-5 triumph in the Patriot League tournament semifinals.
• Bucknell still leads the overall series 21-16, although Mike Murphy has compiled a 6-1 record against the Bison since he took over the Colgate head coaching reins in 2012.
• Start time is noon from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.

Game Archive