BOSTON – No. 18 Boston University took advantage of first-half perfection in the faceoff-X to defeat Colgate 11-6 in Patriot League action Saturday.
 
The Raiders were limited in quality possessions all afternoon. In the opening 30 minutes, BU claimed all 11 faceoffs to go into the locker room leading 6-3. Boston U. finished the game 18-of-21 on faceoffs.
 
Colgate in the second half committed 12 of its 14 turnovers to tamper any hopes of a comeback. The Raiders were held to just two total shots in the fourth quarter.
 
First-year Colgate attacker Sam Cleveland contributed four points on two goals and two assists. It was Cleveland's best statistical performance since he had three goals and three assists in the Feb. 20 win over Binghamton.
 
Junior Jack Stebbins also had a two-goal game Saturday to match his career high. Cam Williams and Anthony Abbadessa chipped in the other two Raider goals.
 
Colgate begins a stretch of four straight home games Tuesday against Cornell. Faceoff from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium is 4 p.m.
 
Bottom Line
• Boston University 11, Colgate 6
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League
• Boston University improved to 6-1 and 2-0.
 
Raider Scoring Recap
• Williams scored a goal for the third straight game to get Colgate on the board late in the first quarter. The senior's seventh goal of the season made it 2-1 Boston University.
• Cleveland tallied his two goals in the second quarter.
• The first came when he found daylight on the near side and beat BU's Christian Carson-Banister to make it 3-2 Terriers with 13:24 left before halftime.
• For his second goal, Cleveland worked his way down low and then backhanded one on the bounce to pull Colgate within 4-3 with 4:38 showing.
• Abbadessa got Colgate off to a good start in the third quarter when he capped an extended possession with his eighth goal of the season. Cleveland had the assist.
• The Raiders were within 6-4 with 12:25 left in the quarter.
• Following a pair of BU goals and after Colgate's Chase Wittich had a goal erased because of a crease violation, Stebbins scored his first of the game from Cleveland with 4:40 left in the period.
• Stebbins capped the Colgate scoring near game's end to match his career high and bump his season total to five goals.
 
Facts & Figures
• Boston University's 11-0 first-half edge in faceoffs sparked the Terriers to an 18-3 advantage for the game.
• It came via violation, but Strecker Backe was in the X when Colgate gained its first faceoff win of the game to begin the second half. Backe won two of his 10 faceoff attempts.
• BU's Sam Talkow was perfect on faceoffs in the first, second and fourth quarters. Colgate's three faceoff wins all came in the third quarter, when the Raiders had a 3-2 edge.
• Colgate committed 14 turnovers to BU's 20, but 12 of Colgate's turnovers came in the second half when the Raiders needed to rally.
• The Raiders were solid on clears, finishing 19-of-20. BU was 16-of-23.
• Shots favored the Terriers 34-31. Colgate worked up a 13-5 advantage in the third quarter, but then the Raiders were outshot 11-2 over the final 15 minutes.
• The one-sided faceoff category helped BU to a 33-25 margin in ground balls.
 
More Key Info
• In addition to Stebbins' two goals, he also set career highs with four caused turnovers and four ground balls.
• Cleveland is the team leader with eight assists and 17 points. He has nine goals to team leader Wittich's 10.
• John Baker (6) and Backe (5) led the Colgate defense with career highs in ground balls.
 
Turning Point
• Colgate had drawn within 4-3 late in the second quarter on Cleveland's second goal of the quarter.
• And the Raiders were presented with a 1-minute man-up opportunity and a chance to pull even.
• But Boston University continued its faceoff excellence and the Raiders never gained possession with the extra man.
• BU scored twice in the final 2:54 of the half and led 6-3 by intermission. The Raiders never got closer than two goals the rest of the way.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Nickerson Field was 724.
 
Up Next
• Colgate begins a stretch of four straight home games Tuesday against CNY rival Cornell.
• The Big Red are 2-2 after defeating Virginia 14-10 Saturday in Ithaca.
• Start time is 4 p.m. from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.