The Colgate Raiders forced Game 3 in the ECACHL quarterfinals with a decisive 5-3 win over the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Starr Rink Saturday night.
The second-seeded Raiders (19-11-6) played with more intensity after being shutout last night by the No. 10 seed Bobcats (20-17-1).
“Colgate has some good hockey players and did a great job tonight,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said.
Quinnipiac got on the board first with a Brian Leitch power-play goal when Reid Cashman found Leitch on the back door for the one-timer. Matt Sorteberg also assisted on the goal at 5:10.
Colgate responded with a goal of its own just 20 seconds later. Peter Bogdanich recorded the tally for the Raiders, with a helper to Ben Camper.
Quinnipiac went back ahead with its second power-play goal, this time by Jamie Bates. Ben Nelson set up Bates for the one-timer, and Cashman also recorded an assist at 9:16.
“We generated a lot of shots tonight and moved the puck well,” Nelson said.
“I thought we played well tonight, worked hard, and think we actually played better tonight then we did last night as a team,” Pecknold said.
The Raiders were not to stay down long, thanks to a four-on-four goal by Tyler Burton, his 21st of the season after an a ice-long pass from Mike Campaner. Burton went in alone on Fisher on the backhand for the goal.
Colgate took its first lead of the game on a faceoff to the left of Fisher. Tyler Burton won it to Jon Smyth, who passed along the blue line to Mark Anderson. He rifled the shot through a screen into the top left corner of the net. It was Anderson’s first collegiate goal.
Minutes later, Colgate appeared to have taken a two goal lead on a deflection into the net, but the play was ruled no goal due to the stick being above the crossbar.
It was more of the same entering the second period, with Quinnipiac tying the game at three on Cashman’s power-play goal.
“Coach said we came out and played hard again tonight,” Nelson said.
Colgate took the lead back when Marc Fulton beat Fisher short-side on a slapshot from the right circle. Ryan Smyth fed Fulton for the goal, and the Raiders sealed the victory as Smyth and Jesse Winchester came down on a two-wide and Winchester blasted home the puck.
Cashman had a goal and two assists for the Bobcats and Burton had a goal and two assists for the Raiders.
The teams combined for four power-play goals on 13 chances. Quinnipiac’s Fisher made 24 saves in the loss, while Colgate’s Mark Dekanich stopped 30 in the win.
“We have to match their intensity and get them down early,” said Nelson. “We know what we need to do to shut them down and just play our game.”
“I’m proud of the guys this weekend; they’ve played hard,” Pecknold said. “We’re going to need to play well and Colgate’s going to play well. It’s going to be a tough battle.”
Game 3 will be Sunday at 7 p.m. at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.
