HAMILTON — Junior
Elyssa Biederman earned her second-career hat trick with three goals in the first eight minutes of game one of the ECAC Quarterfinals to help No. 5 Colgate push past #13/14 Princeton, 5-2.
Juniors Casey Borgiel and Sara Stewart added a pair of assists each while fifth-year Kristýna Kaltounková stretched her point streak to three games in the win. Sophomore Kaia Malachino also scored a goal in her first outing in over a month.
"It was a really entertaining game tonight," head coach Stefan Decosse said. "It was a really entertaining crowd with a lot of energy. I'm pleased with the way we executed various parts of our gameplan. It was a bit of an adventure, but I'm proud of the way our team responded in those moments."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Biederman wasted no time breaking the scoreless tie, squeaking a puck between the Princeton goalie's legs just three minutes into the first period.
- She would double the advantage two minutes later when she deposited a pass from sophomore Avery Pickering into the back of the net after taking some favorable bounces off opposing defenders.
- The natural hat trick was finished off at the 7:39 mark of the opening stanza when Biederman jammed in a loose puck after peeling back in front from behind the net.
- Princeton settled in for the middle frame, outshooting Colgate and cutting into the deficit with a goal halfway through the period.
- Just over three minutes later, Malachino reinstated a three-goal lead with her 18th goal of the season.
- A five-minute major was assessed to the Raiders to open the third allowing the Tigers to get a goal back on the ensuing power play.
- Junior Alexis Petford would put the game on ice with three minutes remaining in regulation by cashing in on the empty net and sealing the 5-2 victory on home ice.
GAME NOTES
- Biederman contributed her second-career hat trick in the win, becoming the second Raider this season to score three goals in a game alongside teammate Kaltounková.
- Senior netminder Hannah Murphy made 27 saves in her 71st career win, four away from claiming the program record.
UP NEXT
No. 5 Colgate (28-7, 19-4 ECAC) will look to punch its ticket to the ECAC Hockey Semifinals next weekend with a win tomorrow against Princeton at 6 p.m. in the Class of 1965 Arena. The best-of-three series will continue to a 3 p.m. matchup on Sunday, if necessary.
