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HAMILTON – Midfielder Eric Foote scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lead Colgate to a thrilling 11-10 victory over No. 20 Bucknell in the Patriot League opener on Saturday.
 
It marked Colgate's fifth consecutive win over the Bison.
 
Attacker Anthony Abbadessa found the back of the net four times in the game, tying his career-high, while attacker Chase Wittich added two goals of his own. Foote notched another goal in regulation, tallying two on the day. Joe Delaney, Duncan Hoskinson and Jack Stebbins each registered goals in the Colgate victory.
 
The Raiders were down by as many as four goals, trailing 5-1 early in the second period. Colgate rallied with four unanswered, led by two Abbadessa goals, and knotted the game at 5-5 by halftime.  
 
Colgate came out striking in the third period, adding four more goals to grab a 9-8 lead heading into the final period. Wittich scored the Raiders' lone goal in the fourth quarter to give them a 10-8 advantage with 13:57 left. But Bucknell fought its way back, scoring two answered goals to force a 10-10 tie at the end of regulation.
 
In the overtime session, the Raiders lost the faceoff on a violation but solid defense by goalie Brandon Burke caused a Bucknell turnover. After a timeout with 2:14 left in OT, Foote scored the game-winner from about 10 yards out.
 
Colgate won the faceoff category 13-12, with Collin Orr 13-of-23 against the Patriot League's No. 2 unit coming in. The Raider defense forced Bucknell into 16 turnovers on the day and goalkeeper Burke had 12 saves.
 
Will Sands, Kyle Shanahan, and Sean Doyle led the Bison with two goals apiece.
 
The Raiders are on the road for the next three games, first taking on Lehigh in a Patriot League matchup next Saturday at noon.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 11, Bucknell 10 (ot)
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League.
• Bucknell is now 3-1 and 0-1.
 
Raider Scoring Recap
• Abbadessa scored Colgate's first three goals, keeping the Raiders close after Bucknell had opened a 5-1 advantage.
• First-year midfielder Hoskinson then tallied his debut collegiate goal from Delaney's first career assist, making it a 5-4 game with 6:17 left in the first half.
• In the final minute before halftime, Foote scored from Donato's assist to draw the Raiders even at 5-5.
• Bucknell struck first to start the second half but then Abbadessa scored off a loose ball situation to retie the game at 6-6.
• Delaney followed with his first collegiate goal and Colgate had its initial lead of the day, 7-6, with 8:48 showing on the third-quarter clock.
• The Bison flip-flopped into an 8-7 lead before Colgate rallied again with three straight goals.
• Stebbins scored and then Wittich went back-to-back late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to push the Raiders in front, 10-8.
• Bucknell answered quickly to forge a 10-10 tie, and there was no scoring over the final 10:25.
• Foote's game-winner was his fifth goal of the season. That's third on the team, just one behind leaders Wittich and Abbadessa.
 
Facts & Figures
• There were five ties in the game and three lead changes.
• Colgate compiled a 47-31 shots advantage and grabbed 31 ground balls to 26 for the Bison.
• Bucknell entered as the Patriot League's No. 2 faceoff unit but the Raiders won that category, 13-12.
• Colgate completed 17 of 20 clears, while the Bison were just 13-of-21.
• There were no extra-man goals. Colgate was 0-of-4 and Bucknell 0-of-1.
• The Bison committed 16 turnovers to Colgate's 12.
• Burke fashioned 10 saves. Bucknell starter Christian Klipstein allowed five goals with four saves in the first half before giving way to Brac McKee, who had 13 big saves against six goals.
• Colgate assists went to Delaney, Donato, Foote, Tyler Rigo, Cam Williams and Sam Cleveland.
• Cleveland also forced three turnovers and picked up five ground balls. Orr earned six ground balls and Connor Murphy had four.
• Colgate might have won the game late in regulation, but Donato's apparent goal was ruled not to have gone in the net.
 
Turning Point
• Colgate's Burke made a key steal on defense to halt Bucknell's first overtime possession. Then in an attempt to complete the ensuing clear, he fired a ¾-length of the field shot over the goal with teammate Wittich backing up the play.
• The Raiders retained possession and Foote scored his game-winner half a minute later.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Mike Murphy: (On the game) "Any time we get in a Patriot League game, especially with these guys, we know it's going to be a 60- to 60-plus-minute affair.
 
(On faceoffs) "I couldn't be prouder of Collin Orr. He's been working really hard in practice and he faced off really well in the second half against Binghamton. He carried that through to today. Their faceoff unit is really good and I'm glad to see that Orrsey really stepped up for his team today."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Murphy's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate faceoff specialist Collin Orr: (On his success) "I came out a little flat – flinched a little bit on the first one – but was able to trust my training and keep grinding. My wings helped me out and we were able to pick up the ball a few more times than them, so it was a good team effort today."
 
Listen to the rest of Orr's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate attackman Anthony Abbadessa: (On his four goals) "We started off slowly so we were just trying to get a couple to get the boys rolling. It was definitely good to get a couple of goals and get the team excited and motivated. It helped out at the end."
 
Listen to the rest of Abbadessa's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate midfielder Eric Foote: (On the winning goal) "Cam Williams started coming down and I got a little room. I was in a position to get to my top hand and they had a little mix-up on a switch, and I was lucky enough to get to a good spot to take the shot. I'm glad it went in."
 
Listen to the rest of Foote's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance inside Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium was 442.
 
Up Next
• Colgate stays in the Patriot League next Saturday with a game at Lehigh.
• The Raiders won 12-8 last season in Hamilton but are looking for their first Bethlehem victory since 2011.
• Start time is noon from the Ulrich Sports Complex.

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