Belfast, Northern Ireland – After No. 12/13 Northeastern got the quick start behind three goals in a minute span, the Colgate men's hockey program battled through the final seconds of the Friendship Four championship. The Raiders fought back up until the final horn, but ultimately fell in a 4-3 final at SSE Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The start of the period was slow as the teams felt each other out, where the Raiders' best chance came by a 2-on-1 attack by
Tyler Penner and
Bobby McMann. The nonconference foes would make up for the action in the second half of the period with four combined goals before the horn.
It was just a single minute that changed the game for the Raiders as Northeastern scored three in just a 55 second span. After the Huskies scored a pair by sending the puck to the top shelf and one just seconds into a power play, Colgate began to chip back at the deficit 2:53 after the scoring spree. A hard-fought tally by
John Snodgrass got Colgate on the board and back within two in an opportunistic period featuring just nine total shots on goal.
Coming out of the locker room the Raiders still faced a 3-1 deficit, but it would be one that wouldn't last long. It only took one minute into the period for
Ben Sharf to score his second of the weekend to make it a one-goal game. As the teams eclipsed the midway point of regulation, the Raiders had a condensed power play that served up several quality looks, but Northeastern remained ahead 3-2. It was the quick reads by goaltender
Andrew Farrier in the final minute on a wraparound save and a rebound attempt that kept it a one-goal game heading into the third.
When they needed the offense, the Raiders were forced to play a significant amount of defense as they were plagued with penalties midway through the period. Farrier continued to make key saves through what would be 4:32 of penalty kill time that included a pair of 5-on-3 opportunities.
It was with under two minutes remaining in regulation that the Raiders opted to pull the tender for a 6-on-4 edge on a Northeastern penalty. After
Anthony Stark made a stellar save at the blue line to keep it in the Husky zone, Northeastern was eventually able to send the puck down the sheet and score on the empty net with 55.6 on the clock for a 4-2 advantage.
Not deterred, the Raiders returned to the ice with a continued empty net, before McMann scored on his own rebound with 17.6 remaining in regulation to put the Raiders back within one.
Determined to make the comeback, Colgate kept the extra skater out for the final faceoff, but Northeastern was able to hold out for a 4-3 victory to claim the Belpot Trophy of the 2019 Friendship Four.
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 1 | 11:31 – After
Anthony Stark's shot was blocked wide of the net,
Jeff Stewart picked up from behind the goal line and turned to the attack. At the edge of the crease,
John Snodgrass picked up the rebound and punched it in under the pad of the goalie to get Colgate on the board.
• Period 2 | 1:00 – While in the Raider zone,
Bobby McMann picked the puck off a Husky at the blue line. From the near boards, McMann sent it to Sharf at center ice, where he skated up on the breakaway and scored down low to make it a one-goal game.
• Period 3 | 19:42 – Behind an extra skater, the Raiders bombarded the Husky zone. Initiated by
Nick Austin's shot from the blue line, the puck was blocked and sent just wide to where
Colton Young picked it up and crossed it over to McMann in the slot. The captain swung wide to the circle before shooting and picking up his own rebound. It was then sent over the shoulder of the goalie to the top shelf.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• By scoring Colgate's opening goal, senior
John Snodgrass extends to a three-game scoring streak.
• Extending to a three-game point streak is senior
Bobby McMann. Behind his one goal and one assist tonight, McMann holds seven points through the last six games.
• Senior
Ben Sharf also holds goals in back-to-back games with his tally in the second period. Sharf also topped the team with four shots on goal on the night.
• With an assist on Snodgrass' tally, freshman
Anthony Stark recorded his first point in his collegiate career.
• Sophomore goaltender
Andrew Farrier made his third straight start in goal, recording 15 saves including a game-high of nine in the second period.
• Junior
Paul McAvoy was most effective in the circle for the Raiders, going 7-for-9 on faceoff attempts.
• Colgate matched Northeastern's 11 blocked shots on the night, led by senior
Paul Meyer and
Trevor Cosgrove with three apiece.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• No. 12/13 Northeastern 4, Colgate 3
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds a 5-7-4 record, and a 3-2-1 mark in ECAC Hockey action.
• No. 12/13 Northeastern is 10-4-2 overall on the season and is 6-3-1 in Hockey East play.
HEAD COACH DON VAUGHAN'S TAKE
"First, a congratulations to Northeastern on winning the Friendship Four. It was a great college hockey game. I was very pleased with our energy and effort tonight. Aside from a couple of minutes in the first period, we played probably our most complete game. To limit a skilled team like Northeastern to 19 shots on goal says a lot about how our guys competed and played to our structure. I am disappointed for our guys that we could not bring home a trophy, but I am not disappointed in how we played. I would also like to add just what a great week we have had here in Belfast. The entire experience was over the top.
"I want to thank Robert Fitzpatrick and the people of Odyssey Trust for their support of the Friendship Four. Also Steve Thornton and Shane Johnson of the Belfast Giants and all of the support staff at SSE Arena that make this such a wonderful experience for our student-athletes. Although it is an ocean away, this in my opinion is the best regular season college hockey tournament there is."
UP NEXT
Colgate returns to ECAC Hockey action next weekend as it travels to Dartmouth and Harvard. Continuing its two-month road stint, the Raiders first face the Big Green on Friday, Dec. 6, followed by the Crimson on Saturday, Dec. 7.
It marks Colgate's final action until after the holiday break when it takes on Ohio State Dec. 27-28.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.
