HAMILTON – Colgate and No. 22 New Hampshire settled for a scoreless draw on Friday night in the Raiders home opener at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
Just under 10 months since Colgate knocked off New Hampshire 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament,
Jacob Harris and the Raiders blanked the Wildcats once again for their second shutout in three games against nationally-ranked opponents in 2019.
Colgate held over 60 percent of the possession in the first half.
Kentaro Morrison served a pair of corner kicks into the box and
Kian Alberto blasted a shot over the net in the
19th minute to highlight early opportunities for the Raiders.
The Colgate back line held New Hampshire without a shot until the
28th minute, when Harris made his first of four saves on a long-range strike from Fabian Lutz.
Back-to-back corners late in the half opened an opportunity for
Edward Bass, who had a shot blocked near the goal mouth in the
40th minute and neither team could find the back of the net before intermission.
Morrison nearly broke the tie in the
56th minute, when he weaved around a defender and rifled a shot on target, forcing New Hampshire keeper Alejandro Robles to dive and deflect away.
Drew Fischer followed up the rebound with a high shot that sailed over the cross bar.
Harris stood tall again in the
69th minute, locking down a crucial save on a point-blank shot from Kyle Brewster after a cross found its way through a scrum in front.
Chris DePetro cranked a shot just wide on the tail end of three consecutive corners in the
85th minute and neither team could net the game-winner in regulation.
The Raiders came away with their best opportunity in the first overtime. Morrison sent a left-footed low cross that caromed toward the top of the 18-yard box, where
John Gerard spun and rocketed a shot straight into the chest of Robles.
Harris saved the only shot he faced in the second overtime to preserve the stalemate.
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 0, No. 22 New Hampshire 0
QUOTES
Head Coach Erik Ronning
On the game:
"From the Oregon State game to now, there were certain things we spoke about that we needed to improve on, and our guys certainly followed through. We were better in possession and much improved on defense. I am really proud of our guys for their effort tonight."
On creating scoring chances:
"We can still be much better. We created some opportunities for ourselves tonight and did not do very well with them. But that's the game of soccer sometimes and you have to give credit to a veteran New Hampshire team that is very strong defensively. The goals will come; we have to keep getting the ball in critical areas and try to take advantage of our chances."
On the quick turnaround:
"Our young team took a step forward tonight. We will take a look at the film and prepare on short rest for a very good Yale team coming in here on Sunday."
NOTABLES
- Colgate handed New Hampshire its first shutout since being blanked on its home turf in last year's NCAA Tournament first round match.
- Harris and the Raiders have notched clean sheets in two of their first three games against top 25 opponents this season.
- Harris' four saves match his season-high total at Oregon State.
- Colgate finished with 58 percent of overall offensive possession, including 12 percent deep in the Wildcats territory.
- Fischer led the Raiders with three shots in the contest.
- Fischer and Gerard tallied the two shots on goal for Colgate.
- The Raiders owned an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.
- Shots were 11-8 in favor of New Hampshire.
UP NEXT
Colgate stays at home to take on Yale on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. The match will be Colgate's annual Down Syndrome Awareness Game, with all fundraising efforts benefiting Pathfinder Village. Patriot League Network will carry the free
livestream.
– RAIDERS –
