BOSTON – It's official. Put it in the books. Your Colgate Raiders are playing their best lacrosse of the season.
Colgate turned a 7-4 second-half deficit on its ear with a thrilling display over the final 20 minutes, scoring six times in succession to blow past host Boston University 11-8 in the Patriot League Championship Quarterfinals. Colgate captains
James Caddigan and
Mike Hawkins combined for three of the six goals to fuel that comeback.
Colgate with the victory returns to the Patriot League tournament semifinals for the first time since 2015, when the Raiders swept their way to the title. Colgate takes on top-seeded Lehigh this Friday in Bethlehem in a 4 p.m. faceoff.
The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network.
Tuesday night was a complete reversal of this season's first two meetings. BU prevailed 16-11 at Nickerson Field back in March, and then the Terriers won again 14-10 last month in Hamilton.
But Colgate (3-6) may have found its stride during Friday's narrow loss against No. 11 Army. And this time when the home team built its lead, Colgate stayed with the game plan and began dominating the field with faceoff wins and ground ball play.
BU (6-5) scored the first three goals of the second half and led 7-4 as the clocked passed under the 4-minute mark of the third quarter. That's when
Adam Salvaggio completed his first career hat trick and got the Raider party started with 3:39 left.
Brian Minicus scored unassisted with 1:57 showing and then found Caddigan in front of the cage with 1 second remaining in the quarter. The senior didn't miss on his one-timer and the game was knotted for the fifth time at 7-7.
Brendan Jordan got in on the fun and handed the Raiders the lead once again with 14:10 left, scoring his eighth of the year. And then Hawkins, who has been battling injuries and came off the bench tonight for the first time all season, scored back-to-back goals to make it a 10-7 margin with 9:04 remaining.
Caddigan with 1 second remaining and then Hawkins with back-to-back goals – that's what captains do.
After that, it was a Colgate ground ball machine that scooped up every loose ball. The Raiders finished with 51 ground balls – 17 in the fourth quarter! – for their best game total since 2011.
Boston's Tommy Bourque tried to bring the Terriers back with his goal at the 4:30 mark to make it a 10-8 game, but Minicus iced it moments later. The All-Patriot League Second Team selection scored his second of the game and that was that.
Salvaggio's three goals led the way and Minicus continues to pour it on, posting his fifth straight multigoal game. Minicus during that stretch has 13 goals and 13 assists to take over the team lead with 36 points.
Thomas Colucci sparkled at the faceoff-X, winning 16-of-22 draws and grabbing a career-high 10 ground balls.
Owen Callahan also starred, scoring the game's first goal – his second of the season – just 20 seconds into the game and pocketing a career-high seven ground balls.
Jacob Sposita scored his eighth goal of the season just before intermission and also handed out two assists for the first time.
Stats of the Game
• In addition to Colucci and Callahan, Minicus also posted a career high for ground balls with five. Jordan and
Aidan Toomey matched career highs with four apiece.
•
Donny Gayhardt caused two turnovers in a game for the first time, and
Will Sidari equaled his career best with two.
• Salvaggio scored his first collegiate hat trick on just four shot attempts.
• Colgate's 51 ground balls were the most by the Raiders since they grabbed the same number in a 13-8 victory at Dartmouth back in 2011.
• The 51 ground balls tie for the 10th-most in Division I this season. Lehigh had 52 in a game this year against Bucknell.
• Tonight's game saw five ties and four lead changes.
• Colgate's 4-3 halftime lead marked the fewest combined first-half goals in a Raiders game this season.
• Colgate has scored double-digit goals in every game but one. They scored nine at Albany on Feb. 27.
• The Colgate defense allowed a season-low eight goals and a season-low four assists Tuesday night.
• Loyola beat Navy 16-9 in the other quarterfinal matchup. The Greyhounds take on Army in Friday's second semifinal.
Up Next
• Colgate advances to meet top-seeded Lehigh on Friday afternoon in Bethlehem.
• The Raiders lost 15-10 to the then-10th ranked Mountain Hawks back in March.
• Faceoff is 4 p.m., with CBS Sports Network carrying the telecast.
