HAMILTON — Ari Bezanson was the hero on Saturday for Colgate, as the freshman found the back of the net in the final minute of the game to give the Raiders a 1-0 win over Army and secure a big three points in the league standings.
Bezanson scored with 24 seconds remaining to seal the deal. The Black Knights fouled the Raiders from about five yards outside the 18-yard box on the right-hand side.
Lyna Schaffer played a cross in off the free kick that Army's goalie came out and deflected. Bezanson chased down the ball and fired a shot into the top netting of the goal as she was falling to put Colgate ahead.
Ally Giovino nearly put the Raiders ahead in the 75th minute when she fired a shot that got deflected off the goalie and led to the Raiders' first corner kick, but Colgate could not get anything going. A few minutes later,
Ellie Stokes released a shot that also got saved by the goalie.
Ana Schremp logged two shots in the opening 15 minutes of the second, with her first getting blocked and her second getting saved by the goalie.
In the first, the Raiders registered six shots but could not put one in the net. Giovino had three of those shots. She fired two early on that she could not convert on as her shot in the fifth minute and the 12th minute both got saved by Army's goalie. In the 37th minute, she released another shot that got saved.
In the 28th minute, Bezanson had a good look at goal and fired a shot from the top of the box that sailed just over the top of the crossbar.
The Black Knights had a good opportunity early on as in the sixth minute Elise Urkov was played a through ball in the box, but
Grace Poncsak came off her line and made a strong diving save to deny Army a scoring chance. The senior posted the fifth shutout of her career in the win.
Sara Anelli had the Raiders' final chance in the first half when she took a shot that went high.
Colgate outshot the Black Knights 13-12 including 6-1 in shots on goal.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson
"I'm honestly just so happy for our group, and proud. They have stayed committed to each other and to the process. It was such an evenly fought game with moments for both sides but we forced the issue and ultimately found a way at the end. We've been on the other side of results like this on the year, so to be on the right side really feels good for our group, and they earned it tonight. Big time shutout, and a total team effort through and through."
UP NEXT
The Raiders host Lehigh on Wednesday in another Patriot League matchup. Kickoff from Beyer-Small '76 Field is 7 p.m.
