HAMILTON, N.Y. – Senior captain Olivia Lynch made her first career start in goal for Colgate on Saturday and did not disappoint. 

Lynch made a career-best 11 saves to help catapult the Raiders (3-11, 2-4 PL) to a 13-12 victory over visiting Lafayette (2-10, 1-5 PL) at Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium. 

Lynch, along with fellow seniors Courtney Day and Kat Lioudis were honored in a ceremony prior to the game. 

Lauren Marandett led the offensive attack for Colgate with a career-best four goals. Cara O'Reilly added a hat trick of her own for the Raiders. 

Colgate jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with goals from Grace Bowers, Kyra Lucey and Sarah Harding. Lafayette scored the next four goals before the Raiders' tied the score at 4-4 at the end of the opening quarter with the first to back-to-back goals by Marandett.

Marandett scored the first goal of the second quarter and Cara O'Reilly and Devon Maillet also sparked a four-goal run for Colgate that allowed the Raiders to regain a 7-4 lead. 

Colgate led 7-5 at the break. 

The Raiders opened the second half with three straight goals to take a 10-5 advantage. O'Reilly scored twice, including one just 45 seconds into the third quarter. Eliza Soutter added the other goal for Colgate during the run. 

Lafayette once again mounted a run of their own and scored the next three goals to slide back within two goals of Colgate, 10-8. Bowers second goal of the game snapped the Leopards run and a pair of goals from Marandett lifted Colgate's lead back to four, 13-9. 

Lafayette outshot Colgate 40-28, but the Raiders claimed 17 of the 29 draw controls. O'Reilly added to her record-setting season with nine draws to give her 91 this season, while Bowers collected six. 

FROM THE SOURCE

Head Coach Kathy Taylor

"Today offered us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our three seniors Courtney Day, Kat Lioudis and Olivia Lynch. These three young women have contributed in many ways to the program through the years and it was awesome for the team and coaches to honor them today and have their parents walk on the field with them."

"The weather was not cooperative with both rain and snow at different times, but the win was the cherry on the top of a great day. We will watch the film and shore up a few areas before going into to our next game against a very good Holy Cross team at home on Wednesday"
 

UP NEXT

Colgate hosts Holy Cross on Wednesday in a Patriot League match-up at Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m.