HAMILTON — Ross Mitton scored a late third period goal, but Colgate could not keep the scoring going as the Raiders fell 2-1 to Vermont Friday evening.
Mitton got Colgate on the board with a short-handed goal at the 11:50 mark after the Catamounts got called for hooking. Pierson Brandon fired a shot that got saved by the goalie. Brandon collected his miss from behind the net and passed out to Mitton for a one-time shot from long distance that he fired into the back of the net. Mitton's goal made it a one-goal game at 2-1.
Colgate had numerous other chances down the stretch to tie it up, but couldn't quite put one in. With four seconds remaining in the game, Nick Anderson ripped a shot that looked like it was going in if it wasn't for a clutch glove save by Vermont's goalie.
The Catamounts opened the scoring with just over four minutes left in the first. William Lemay won a loose puck in the Raiders' defensive end and tapped it ahead to Andrei Buyalsky. The Catamounts' forward got free on a breakaway and slotted a shot into the back of the net to put Vermont ahead 1-0.
Vermont doubled its lead at the 13:45 mark of the second. Jacques Bouquot played the puck ahead to Isak Walther, who skated down the right side of the ice and into the center before flicking a shot over the shoulder of Carter Gylander.
Colgate came out firing in the second, outshooting the Catamounts 12-4 in the period and forcing their goalie to make some big stops.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the middle frame the Raiders were called for too many players on the ice. Colgate's PK did not last long as a minute later, the Catamounts got called for hooking. Vermont then had back-to-back penalties called on it, giving the Raiders a power play chance.
Colgate had its first power play of the night with just under 14 minutes remaining in the first after the Catamounts got called for interference, but they could not capitalize on the opportunity.
The Raiders finished with a 35-23 advantage in shots and also won the faceoff battle, going 34-63.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Don Vaughan
"We were a little slow out of the gate in the first period but I thought we rebounded well in the second and third. We held them to four shots on goal in the second and three shots on goal in the third. The guys did a lot of things right to generate scoring opportunities. We out chanced them but that won't win you hockey games. We need to finish on those opportunities. We have a chance to do just that tomorrow."
UP NEXT
Vermont and Colgate will face off again tomorrow in the series finale. Puck drop from the Class of 1965 Arena is 7 p.m.
