Photo Gallery

HAMILTON – At the very last breath of another closely contested Central New York rivalry game, Cornell eked out an anguishing 6-5 decision over Colgate here Tuesday afternoon.
 
Cornell freshman Zach Ward capped a big day with his second goal of the game – and his career – for the winner just as the final horn sounded.
 
The Raider defense, stellar all afternoon, was closely monitoring Big Red senior scoring leader John Edmonds. But while Colgate held Edmonds without a goal, his second assist of the game found Ward at close range and the rookie didn't miss.
 
The clock struck triple-zeroes just as the ball was finding the net.
 
Anthony Abbadessa also scored twice for the Raiders, who rallied from a 5-2 deficit late in the third quarter. Abbadessa had the middle of three Colgate goals that forged a 5-5 tie over the last 8½ minutes.
 
But the Raiders never could re-capture the lead and missed by a tenth of a second forcing overtime against Cornell for the second year in a row.
 
Tuesday's meeting was the 50th in this series and the Big Red won for the 11th straight time and 22nd in the last 23. Last year in Ithaca, Cornell fought off a late Raider rally to prevail 10-9 in overtime.
 
Colgate stays at home Saturday for another nonconference matchup. The Raiders host Fairfield in a noon start from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.
 
Bottom Line
• Cornell 6, Colgate 5
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 3-4 overall.
• Cornell improved to 3-2.
 
Raider Scoring Recap
• Abbadessa scored the only goal of the first quarter and Colgate led 1-0. Chase Wittich had the assist.
• The Raiders trailed 3-1 at halftime, but then Peter Donato snapped Colgate's 26:09 scoring drought with a goal just 53 seconds into the third quarter. It was Donato's fourth goal of the season; Jack Stebbins had the assist.
• After Cornell increased its lead to 5-2, the Raiders began their comeback.
• Tyler Rigo scored on a rebound put-back of Eric Foote's shot that was saved, and Colgate was within two heading to the fourth quarter. Rigo's goal was his third of the year.
• Abbadessa tallied his second of the game with 11:18 remaining off a Joe Delaney assist.
• And then Duncan Hoskinson tied it 5-5 on his second goal of the season with 8:31 showing. Hoskinson scored unassisted, bouncing a sort of change-up that fooled Cornell's Brennan Donville.
 
Facts & Figures
• For the second straight Tuesday, Colgate played a one-goal game against a CNY foe. The Raiders won 7-6 at Hobart one week ago.
• Colgate was looking for its first win over Cornell since 1997 and its first home victory since 1964.
• Both defenses were rock solid. The Raiders forced 14 Cornell turnovers, while the Big Red forced 12.
• Burke posted a season-high 13 saves and Cornell's Donville had 14.
• Burke in consecutive games against the Big Red has compiled 29 saves. He had a career-high 16 in last year's overtime contest.
• Cornell registered a 34-29 shots edge and came up with 24 ground balls to Colgate's 18.
• The Big Red's Domenic Massimilian won 10 of 14 faceoffs, but the Raiders claimed three of those wins in the second half. Collin Orr finished 3-of-10 and Peter Marchetto 1-of-4.
• All 11 goals were scored even strength. Colgate was 0-of-1 on the man advantage and Cornell 0-of-3.
• Colgate was solid again in clears, finishing 20-of-21. Cornell was 19-of-23.
 
More Key Info
• Abbadessa now has 10 goals for the season to tie Wittich for the team lead.
• Leo Stouros had a career-high five ground balls and Strecker Backe matched his career high with two caused turnovers.
• The Raiders are clearing at a percentage rate of 87.2, while holding opponents to 75.5.
• Colgate leads the Patriot League in fewest penalty minutes per game at 1.86.
• For Cornell, in addition to Ward's two goals, four others found the net.
• Massimilian picked up five grounds balls, as did defenseman Marshall Peters.
• The Raider defense had held Cornell without a goal for 22:55 until Ward's last-gasp winner.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium was 293.
 
Up Next
• Colgate entertains Fairfield this Saturday in the second of four straight home games.
• The Stags are 2-5 after their 10-5 defeat Saturday at the hands of No. 4 Yale.
• Start time is noon from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium.

Game Archive