HAMILTON – Hannah Pinkus scored her sixth goal of the season and Colgate put up a season-high 26 shots but the Raiders could not quite finish in a 1-1 double-overtime draw against American on Senior Night at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
Senior Day turned into Senior Night as the match, originally slated for 2 p.m., was moved to 7 p.m. due to inclement weather in the area. The Raiders celebrated their nine seniors for their accomplishments on and off the field over the last four years.
Colgate outshot American 26-11, including a 14-8 advantage on goal, but their second shot of the night was the only one to find the back of the net. Pinkus gave the Raiders an early 1-0 lead with a dazzling goal in the fifth minute. The senior midfielder spun around a defender near the top of the box and pocketed a high shot into the upper right corner for the early go-ahead marker.
The Raiders dominated possession in the first half, outshooting American 9-2, but they couldn't add on.
Grace Poncsak recorded one save in the opening half, and it came with less than three minutes remaining to keep the match 1-0 in favor of Colgate after 45 minutes.
American put more pressure in the offensive end as the rain came down harder in the second half. The Eagles scored the equalizer in the 50th minute after Abby Dillon took it down the right side and struck it by a diving Poncsak with a low shot to the left side.
Pinkus nearly had her second goal of the night when her header off a
Ruby Diodati corner kick flew over the crossbar.
Lyna Schaffer saw another shot travel just high of the crossbar, and
Lauren Rougas,
Sara Anelli, and Diodati forced late saves by American's keeper.
Poncsak made a diving stop in the 86th minute, one of her five saves in the second half, to send the match to overtime tied at 1-1.
Each team hit the post once in a back-and-forth first overtime.
Ally Giovino nearly ended it but her shot rang off the crossbar. Colgate outshot the Eagles 5-0 in the second overtime, but could not come up with the winner and the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach
Lyndse Hokanson
"I am proud of the girls' fight again tonight. We can never question their work rate or willingness to put themselves about for 90 minutes plus. I'm hoping one of these days we'll get a stroke of luck in our favor that one of these shots will go in instead of hitting the post. But I can't credit the girls enough for the heart that they showed. We'll pick ourselves back up and put in a good week of work preparing for the final stretch of the season."
UP NEXT
With two games left in the regular season, Colgate hits the road next Saturday to face Lafayette. Kickoff from Easton, Pa., is set for 2 p.m.
