Colgate Rallies To Stun Syracuse 3-2 In OT (11/20/20)

In a typical year, the ECAC hockey slate would have been long underway by now and gruesome battles between close proximity rivals would be going on without a doubt. 2020’s a different breed. The Colgate Lady Raiders of the ECAC and Syracuse Orange Ladies of the CHA squared off tonight at the Tennity Ice Pavilion to jumpstart their hockey seasons. The Raiders return 20 of their 21 skaters from the 2019/20 season, and picked up a pair of talented freshmen who were on full display in the contest {Kayle Osborne, Goalie & Kristyna Kaltounkova, Forward}. Syracuse’s star studded lineup is headlined by junior Lauren Bellefontaine and sophomore defender Mae Batherson, who account for the last two CHA Rookie Of The Year Awards respectively. Greg Fargo mans the Raiders bench for his ninth season, while Paul Flanagan continues as the head of Syracuse’s staff for the thirteenth consecutive year. Colgate has taken all of the meetings between the two sides since 10/2/14, including 5-1 and 5-2 wins during the 2019/20 season & they looked to continue the trend in tonight’s matchup.

The opening period was all orange and white as Syracuse surged out to an early 2-0 lead behind a pair of goals from the 5’2 center from Franklin, Massachusetts Rayla Clemons. Just 1:23 in, it was Kristen Siermachesky getting the play started as on a 3-on-1 break she hit Victoria Klimek who found Rayla Clemons in stride on a cut back to the right wing circle, firing off a pitch perfect shot, and the Orange got the early jump on Colgate’s Osborne, making her collegiate debut. Colgate held their ground till later on with just 4:13 to go till intermission, Klimek’s speed and Clemon’s handiness with a stick was just too much for the Raiders to handle. Forcing a turnover in the defensive end, Victoria Klimek raced it down ice with Rayla Clemons by her side and a better pass and finish couldn’t have been desired as the underdog home squad led by a pair heading to the dressing room.

The second period was a back and forth affair with aplenty of penalty minutes, and special teams opportunities given to both sides, but neither could converge. Danielle Serdachny and the top line repeatedly put up scoring chances for Colgate, and on the other side – Syracuse’s offense delivered early but the defense stood tall, allowing just 14 shots to find Allison Small’s area between the pipes through 40 minutes of play.

The final period of regulation was dominated by the visitors from start to finish. The possession time and shot opportunities were going ‘Gates way in the opening stages of the period, but they were unable to cash in till just over midway through the period. 10:20 into the frame, Maggie MacEachern buried a strong wrister from the point over a screened and stunned Small to pull her side back within 1 as the board now read 2-1 ‘Cuse. With 6:46 remaining in the contest, Colgate received a break they’d use to their full advantage in this one. A 5-on-3 advantage was headed in their favor, and with 43 seconds ticked by… they cashed in to tie it up. Allyson Simpson put a slapper on net from beyond the left wing circle and Malia Schneider, stick in the air, punched it home tip shelf to secure the now 2-2 score. The goal was eventually upheld after a review looking for a high stick, and the score held sending the game to extra time.

The Lady Raiders opened overtime with forty-six seconds on the power play and it wouldn’t take long to wrap it up. Simpson dished it to Bard who stood in the hash marks down the right wall, as Sydney Bard came up clutch with a top shelf winner just 19 seconds into the five minute period sending the Raiders to a 1-0-0 mark, while the Orange drop to 0-1-0. Syracuse and Colgate wrap up the home-and-home set tomorrow at 4pm from the Class Of 1965 Arena in Hamilton and with no fans permitted, the game can be viewed on ESPN+.