HAMILTON – The Colgate women's soccer team battled back from an early deficit to find an equalizer in the 44th minute as the Raiders and Syracuse played to a 1-1 double-overtime draw Friday night in season-opening action at Beyer-Small '76 Field.  
 
First-year Mara Cosentino netted Colgate's goal in her first collegiate action, while rookie keeper Kelly Chiavaro made eight saves between the pipes.
 
The Orange struck first when a long shot rebounded off the top post and Sheridan Street was able to head the ball into the back of the net just 45 seconds into the contest.
 
The teams exchanged possession for a majority of the opening term. The Raiders began to gain momentum in the final few minutes of half as Cosentino forced Syracuse keeper Courtney Brosnan to make her first stop of the night in the 43rd minute. Colgate kept the pressure up and followed with a pair of corner kicks, the last of which the Raiders were able to convert as Cosentino one-touched a rebound into the lower right-hand corner of the net to knot the score at 1-1 with just over a minute left in the half. 
 
Syracuse tallied the first few shots of the second frame, but the Raiders countered with strong chances of their own. First-year Dom DeMarco stepped up with a big defensive play in the 75th minute as she was able to block a shot on an open net to keep the contest knotted at 1-1.
 
Neither team was able to find a go-ahead goal in regulation as the season opener was sent to overtime. The Orange had a free kick right outside the 18-yard box in the 98th minute, but the Syracuse player kicked the ball right into the Raider wall as the game was sent to a second overtime.
 
The Raiders were presented with a nearly identical opportunity at the end of the second and final overtime as senior Sarah Coy hurried to set up a free kick in the final seconds, but her shot sailed just high of the crossbar as the clock expired and the contest ended in a 1-1 double-overtime draw.
 
BOTTOM LINE

• Colgate 1, Syracuse 1 (2OT)

 
WON-LOST RECORDS

• Both Colgate and Syracuse move to 0-0-1 on the season.

 
KEY RAIDER INFO

• The Raiders held Syracuse scoreless for the final 109 minutes of the game after surrendering a goal just 45 seconds into the contest.
• Cosentino led the Raiders with two shots, while Coy, sophomore Martina Loncar and freshman Leah Lewis tallied one apiece.
• Five first-years were in the Raiders' starting lineup (Chiavaro, Abby Sotomayor, DeMarco, Claire Micheletti and Leah Lewis).

 
FACTS & FIGURES

• Chiavaro finished with eight saves compared to Brosnan's one. Four of Chiavaro's stops came in overtime.
• The Orange outshot Colgate 22-5.
• Both teams recorded three corner kicks.

 
FROM THE SOURCE
 
Head Coach Kathy Brawn

• "We obviously didn't want to give up an early goal, but the response couldn't have been better. I thought that the composure that was shown and the fact that we stuck to our game plan was quite impressive. We had a lot of new players out on the field and I thought that they did well and the leadership around them was also very strong."
• "I thought the freshmen did well. They came in well prepared and were welcomed to the team really nicely. It's a good, versatile group and they're really coachable."
• "The weekend is not over. UNH is an outstanding team. We have to think about tonight a little bit, be in recovery mode tomorrow and then get ready to play against a really talented UNH team Sunday."

 
 
Senior Defender Emily Pullen

•  "I'm really happy with the effort tonight. We're coming off a great preseason and we have such good team chemistry that I'm really not surprised we fought so hard tonight."
• "To have one freshman, let alone five, step up to play in a home opener against one of our biggest rivals is really impressive. They were so confident tonight and we're really proud of them."

 
 UP NEXT

• The Raiders continue their season-opening homestand when Colgate hosts New Hampshire Sunday at 1 p.m.
• Colgate is 2-0-1 all-time versus UNH, with the latest result being a 2-0 win in 2013.
• Free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.