In their first meeting since 2005, the Colgate Raiders and Mass.-Lowell River Hawks fought ferociously at Starr rink in a tight game that ended with the Raiders edging Mass.-Lowell 2-1.
Colgate junior David McIntyre netted the game-winner late in the second period. The offensive advantage for most of the game, however, seemed to belong to the River Hawks, who outshot the Raiders 24-16.
Colgate Coach Don Vaughan gave some of the credit for Colgate’s win to junior goalie Charles Long, stepping up to play in Colgate’s first game after the loss of their previous starting goalie, Mark Dekanich.
“He had a great game,” Vaughan said of Long, who stopped 24 of the 25 shots fired at him by the River Hawks.
After River Hawks sophomore Patrick Cey tied the game 1-1 at 14:47 in the second period, the River Hawks were unable to capitalize on a subsequent five-on-three power play and went 0-3 on the power play in the game.
“I was hoping our power play would be more effective,” River Hawks’ coach Blaise MacDonald said of the lost opportunities. “We had been working a lot on it. We need to finish our opportunities.”
Colgate had a difficult time getting their footing in the first period, as the River Hawks carried most of the offensive play.
“We were just getting our feet wet; this was our first time out on the ice as a team ever,” said Colgate’s David McIntyre.
The Raiders came out strong in the second period, taking the lead on a power-play goal from Wade Poplawski at 9:18.
“We regrouped in the locker room,” Vaughan said. “We worked on not giving them as much time and space.”
Colgate also saw a promising beginning from some of its rising players, like Austin Smith, who put up his first point with the Raiders in his first time out on the ice with an assist to David McIntyre for the win. Colgate had lost its three top scorers to graduation coming into this season.
While it was a somewhat unexpected loss, MacDonald said that the River Hawks were able to learn from their defeat. “We got away from our systems of play, but our energy level was excellent.”
Mass.-Lowell next plays Michigan State, while Colgate faces off against Bentley.
