Re: Colgate 2018-19
Here is the Saturday report...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019
jjorgensen@colgate.edu
Raiders Snap Cornell’s Streak with Overtime Victory
Snodgrass’ Overtime Goal Lifts Colgate Past No. 11/12 Cornell for 3-2 Win
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Colgate men’s hockey program headed to Lynah Rink on Saturday evening searching for redemption against No. 11/12 Cornell and came out victorious with a 3-2 overtime win. Behind a 41-save performance by goaltender Mitch Benson and a two-goal game from John Snodgrass, the Raiders snapped Cornell’s eight-game unbeaten streak.
The series finale of the home-and-home matchup began with a ceremonial puck drop with kids of Camp Good Days, a program for children and families affected by cancer. Six children were honorary captains for the game and received autographed jerseys from both the Cornell and Colgate teams.
For the second night in a row, Cornell was able to gain an early advantage when it scored just 2:00 after the drop of the puck. The remainder of the period was all Colgate’s game as freshman goaltender Mitch Benson made several spectacular saves to keep the Raiders within one.
The efforts of Colgate’s strong opening period finally paid off seconds before the horn when junior John Snodgrass tied the game with just 4.5 on the clock. When the pair of conference foes skated out for the second period, Colgate was determined to not allow another quick Cornell start as junior Paul Meyer lifted the Raiders to their first lead of the weekend just 15 seconds into the second period, prompting a Cornell goalie change.
The remainder of the second stanza shifted a defensive test for Mitch Benson as he made 17 saves so as the Raiders could carry their 2-1 lead into the third. When Colgate faced 1:24 of a 5-on-3 penalty kill, the freshman netminder continued to flash his glove for the Raiders as they returned to full strength with no damage done. With his performance in the crease, Benson and the Raiders were then able to head into the third period with a 2-1 lead over the nationally-ranked opponent.
Hungry for more, two of Colgate’s best scoring chances in the third period came from Snodgrass on breakaways. Midway through, the Eagan, Minnesota, native punched the puck past the blueliners for a breakaway but it was stifled at the last second by Cornell’s netminder. Snodgrass stood out yet again in regulation when a banked pass from the Colgate blue line was picked up entering the Cornell zone and he skated it up for a solo spin move at the crease.
When the crowd began to watch the clock as the minutes waned on regulation, a cross pass was tipped under the pads of Benson with just 6:18 remaining. After challenging the call for offsides, it was ruled a fair goal as the Big Red tied the game at 2-2 to force overtime.
The late goal fueled a strong start to the overtime session for Cornell, but the determined Raider offense struck when it mattered most. A move at center ice by Josh McKechney pushed the puck into the Cornell zone, before a rebound by Snodgrass solidified the overtime victory and Raiders rushed the ice to celebrate the 3-2 win.
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 1 | 19:56 – As Cornell looked to dump the puck in the final seconds of the opening period, Bobby McMann was able to keep in within the blue line and serve it up to John Snodgrass. His top shelf snipe helped the Raiders close out the period with a clean 1-1 slate against Cornell.
• Period 2 | 00:15 – Catching Cornell again attempting to toss the puck out of the zone, Paul Meyer clipped the puck from the blue line. A quick shot through minimal traffic found the top shelf for Colgate’s 2-1 lead.
• Overtime | 3:48 – After Cornell opened the overtime session with a flurry of scoring chances, an offensive drive led by Josh McKechney brought the puck back to the Big Red zone. McKechney’s initial shot was stopped by Cornell’s netminder before Snodgrass was ready at the edge of the crease to sink the puck in on the rebound for the overtime winner.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Earning his first career multi-goal game junior John Snodgrass tallied both the tying goal and overtime game-winner. The goals mark his second and third goals of the season, respectively, and his first goals since a 4-3 win at Princeton (Jan. 5). It is also his sixth multi-point night in his three seasons.
• In earning a pair of assists on Colgate’s first two goals on the night junior Bobby McMann now holds 11 points in the last 12 games by three goals and eight assists. The effort marks his second consecutive multipoint night and team-leading fifth of the season.
• In notching Colgate’s go-ahead goal early in the second period, junior Paul Meyer notched his first goal of the season and fourth of his career. It marks the defenseman’s first goal since playing Brown on Feb. 17, 2018.
• Freshman goaltender Mitch Benson tied his career-high of 41 saves against Ohio State (Nov. 9, 2018). His performance against Cornell included a game-high of 17 saves in the second period as well as three critical saves in the overtime session.
• With an assist on the overtime game-winner senior Willie Brooks extends to a season-best three-game point streak. Josh McKechney, McMann and Snodgrass are now all on a two-game point streaks.
• The Raiders held their opponent scoreless on the power play for the 11th time this season and for the second consecutive game.
• Colgate is now 3-0-0 when leading after two periods this season, as well as 2-0-2 in overtime games.
• In addition to it being Colgate’s first win over Cornell since Feb. 8, 2014, the win marks the Raiders first win in Ithaca since Jan. 27, 2012.
• The victory snaps Colgate’s five-game losing streak as well as Cornell’s eight-game unbeaten streak.
• With the Big Red holding the No. 11/12 spots in the national polls, it marks Colgate’s third victory over a ranked opponent this season.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, No. 11/12 Cornell 2 – Overtime
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds a 7-15-2 record, and a 4-6-2 mark in ECAC Hockey action.
• Cornell is 12-6-1 overall on the season, and is 8-3-1 in ECAC play.
COACH VAUGHAN’S TAKE
“We gave one up early again but our guys kept battling. The goal at the end of the period with a few seconds left was really big and we went to the locker room feeling pretty good about ourselves. Then to come back for the second and take a lead is really important, especially in this building. Our guys worked really hard and had to put a little extra effort just to get the tying goal.
“I was really proud of our effort. Obviously our goaltender was great tonight. You hear the saying that your goalie needs to be your best penalty killer and he clearly was that tonight. We killed off a long 5-on-3 and I’m just really happy for the guys. We played well last night but came up a little bit short. To come to this building against a top-ranked team in the country and do what we did is pretty special for our guys.
“Paul Meyer played really well tonight. He scored a goal, but it was much more than that. Josh McKechney’s line [with McMann and Snodgrass] is playing really well right now and they’re generating a lot of opportunities for us.”
On Snodgrass’ overtime winner: “That’s how Snodgrass gets his goals; we call that his office and he was ready to bang away at it. McKechney made a great play to get the puck to the net and we found a way to get a win in a tough building and it’s a great confidence booster for us. There’s a lot of hockey left and it’s the ECAC so anything can happen.”
WHAT MITCH BENSON SAYS
“Starting off the second period with that goal was huge. Right off the bat like that, it silenced the crowd a bit and got our bench fired up. I’m really happy for our seniors that we were able to get this win and it’s a good thing to propel us forward.”
On the long 5-on-3 penalty kill: “I wasn’t really thinking about it and was just focused on killing it off. I was taking it 30 seconds at a time and just trying to make as many saves as possible.”
UP NEXT
Colgate returns to the road next weekend when it travels to RPI and Union for continued ECAC play Feb. 1-2. Class of 1965 Arena will be packed once again for men’s hockey on Feb. 8-9 when the Raiders host St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
