HAMILTON – Kyra Lucey bounced a free-position shot high into the netting just over a minute into overtime to give the Raiders a 16-15 victory over American on Saturday afternoon.
Lucey picked the perfect time to notch her first goal of the game. She was fouled near the goal mouth, resulting in a free-position opportunity. She took care of the rest, bouncing the shot to beat the Eagles keeper under the crossbar for the walk-off winner with 1:54 left in overtime.
Lucey was one of nine Raiders to find the back of the net, including three players with hat tricks as Lucy Licata, Lauren Thompson, and Kait Henning finished with three goals apiece. Lucey added four assists to give her a team-best five points in the triumph.
With the win, Colgate kept its postseason hopes alive with one regular season game remaining. The Raiders, currently tied with Holy Cross for sixth, need a win at Lehigh next Thursday to stay in the hunt.
The overtime winner came after Colgate used a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the game in the fourth quarter. American answered with the last two goals, including the equalizer with 4.5 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.
In a game of runs, Colgate scored the last two goals in each of the first two frames but the Eagles outscored the Raiders 8-2 in between to build an 8-6 margin at halftime.
Back-to-back goals from Devon Maillet and Henning tied the game at 8-8 before American countered with three unanswered. Ten total goals were scored in the third – five from each team – and Sarah Harding's tally with 11 seconds left in the frame brought the Raiders within 13-11.
Ella Bishara's goal with 7:07 left in the fourth gave Colgate its first lead of the game. Licata put the Raiders in front 15-13 less than two minutes later and that was the score until the Eagles scored twice in the final 1:13 to send the game to overtime.
Harding, like she had all afternoon, scooped the opening draw in overtime to set up Lucey's game-winning goal on Colgate's first and only possession of the extra frame.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Kathy Taylor
"I couldn't be prouder of a group of young women than I was today. To get this win on senior day when we were celebrating Cara O'Reilly and Sarah Harding is truly special. We were challenged at several points but our team rallied back every time right down to the winning shot on the last goal by Kyra Lucey in overtime on an 8-meter shot. A great team win and an exciting fourth quarter we can build on."
NOTES
- Colgate matched its season high with 16 goals and took a season-best 44 shots.
- The Raiders outshot American 44-25 including a 26-22 edge in shots on frame.
- Colgate dominated the draw controls 28-7, led by 13 from Sarah Harding.
- Ten Raiders recorded a point, including nine different goal scorers.
- Colgate celebrated its two seniors, Sarah Harding and Cara O'Reilly, prior to the game.
- This was Colgate's first overtime game since April 2018 when the Raiders beat Lafayette 13-12, also on Senior Day, at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
UP NEXT
Colgate (4-10, 3-5 Patriot) closes out the regular season at Lehigh next Thursday. Opening draw is set for 6 p.m.
