Northeastern Falls to Colgate, 3-0

Senior netminder Clay Witt stopped 18 shots for the Huskies
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 9:44  CLG1-0 EV GW Mike Panowyk (1)Kevin Lough/1, Tyson Spink/1
3rd 8:14  CLG2-0 EV Darcy Murphy (1)Joe Wilson/1
3rd 19:08  CLG3-0 PP EN Kyle Baun (2)Tyson Spink/2, Spiro Goulakos/2
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Northeastern  0000
Colgate  0123
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Northeastern  351624
Colgate  86721
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Northeastern (0-2-0)  0/5 7/14 0
Colgate (2-1-0)  1/5 6/23 0
Northeastern Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Clay Witt (L, 0-2-0)56:322 85518
Empty Net3:281     
Colgate Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Charlie Finn (W, 2-1-0)60:000 351624

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Facing a 1-0 deficit entering the third period, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team (0-2-0) peppered Colgate with 16 third period shots, but could not solve Charlie Finn (24 saves) as the Raiders skated to a 3-0 victory on Friday night at Starr Rink.

Colgate received goals from three different skaters and won 30-of-48 face-offs. NU was strong on the penalty kill throughout the night (4-of-5) before surrendering a power play tally with the goaltender pulled in the final minute of regulation.

Northeastern weathered the storm during the opening minutes of the first period as the Raiders came at the NU cage with the first four shots of the contest, but the Husky defense kept the shots out of the grade-A area and to the perimeter of the zone. Colgate outshot NU 8-3 in the first frame, with two of Northeastern's bids coming on their three power plays opportunities.

The Huskies' first chance of the night came midway through the first period when Mike Szmatula used his feet to kick the puck up to his stick before spotting Torin Snydemancrashing the cage for a shot that Finn got his right pad on. Finn would also deny Mike McMurtry minutes later after some strong work from Nolan Stevens below the goal line.

The physical play increased at the beginning of the second period, with the teams combining for six minor penalties, including five on the Huskies. The Raiders, however, were able to capitalize on one of their six second period shots to take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.

Witt was tested early in the frame by John Lidgett at the tail end of a Northeastern power play on a low shot that Witt knocked aside with the pad. At the other end of the ice Kevin Roy and McMurtry nearly connected on a two-on-one as Roy saucered a puck to McMurtry before McMurtry sent it right back, but Roy could not handle the bouncing puck.

Witt made the save of the frame with 11 minutes remaining in the stanza when he stoned Joe Wilson on a backhand heading for the top right corner, but the senior netminder quickly slid across to make the shoulder save and cover up for the faceoff. Minutes later, Colgate struck first after a turnover in the neutral zone as Mike Panowyk took a feed from Kevin Lough, burying a one-timer past Witt for Panowyk's first goal of the season.

The Northeastern penalty killing unit was tested throughout the final 10 minutes of the period as NU was whistled for four minor penalties during the final nine minutes of the frame, but the Husky defense stood its ground to block several shots while Witt steered aside three more.

Darcy Murphy put the Raiders up by two with 8:14 left in regulation when he sped around a defender before tossing a backhand on goal that got through Witt for his first goal of the season.

Northeastern had its chances to cut into the deficit late in the game when Evan Peterson was called for a hitting from behind and a game misconduct, giving NU an extended power play. That's when Roy, Szmatula and Zach Aston-Reese went to work trying to pound home any loose pucks to put NU on the board.

The Huskies pulled Witt in favor of the extra skater with 4:56 left in the third, and John Stevens had a chance to poke home a rebound, but the Raiders benefited from an early whistle before potting an empty net goal with 52 seconds left to seal the victory.

The two teams will meet again in the series finale tomorrow night at Starr Rink, with puck drop slated for 7 p.m.