Colgate Balance Too Much for Sacred Heart

Nine different Raiders recorded at least one point as Colgate skated to a 6-2 win against Sacred Heart in the season opener for both teams Friday at Starr Rink.

Senior Tyler Burton (Langley, B.C.), pictured, led the balanced offensive effort with a career-high four points, including three assists and a shorthanded goal. Five other Raiders posted two points, including freshman Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) who had two assists in his first collegiate game, and sophomore Ethan Cox (Richmond, B.C.), who equaled his scoring total from last season with a pair of goals.

Senior Ben Camper (Rocky River, Ohio) opened the scoring 7:50 into the game. Brisebois took the puck from junior Nick St. Pierre (St. Etienne, Que.) in the high slot, and he shot on net through traffic. The rebound bounced to Camper at the left point, and his shot found the right corner of the net.

Less than two minutes later, the Raiders struck again. After falling to the ice, Cox attempted a shot that went wide. Freshman Wade Poplawski (Winnipeg, Man.) picked up the puck and passed it to Burton, who put a shot on net that was tipped under the goalie's pad by Cox.

Sacred Heart capitalized on its third power play of the game by getting on the board. Eric Giosa passed the puck to Dave Jarman in the high slot, and he dropped it off for Reade Wolansky. Wolansky's shot went through traffic and over the glove of Colgate senior goaltender Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.), who was screened.

The Raiders regained the two-goal lead 16 seconds later. Brisebois gave the puck to junior Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) in the middle, and he passed it to freshman Brian Day (Danvers, Mass.) on the left side. Day put the puck over Stefan Drew's glove for his first collegiate goal.

Colgate enjoyed several scoring opportunities during its first power play of the second period, but was unable to convert. However, once the teams were back to 5-on-5, the Raiders got their fourth goal of the night. From the right side, Burton sent the puck to St. Pierre at the left point. St. Pierre skated to the top of the slot, then fired a shot on net that was redirected past the goalie by senior captain Jesse Winchester (Long Sault, Ont.).

The Pioneers got their second power-play goal of the night at the 13:42 mark of the middle session. Bear Trapp fed the puck to Dave Grimson behind the net, and he passed it out to Eric Giosa, who was just inside the blue line. Giosa found twine through a crowd to make it a 4-2 game.

Once again, the Raiders were quick to respond. Ninety seconds after the Sacred Heart goal, Winchester found Burton on the right side, and Burton shot in on goal. Drew made the save, but the rebound bounced out in front where the Raiders had converged on the net. Cox batted the puck out of the air and tucked it in under the crossbar for his second goal of the night.

At the halfway point of the third period, with Sacred Heart skating on their fifth power play of the evening, Camper stole the puck away in the neutral zone and broke Burton out on a shorthanded chance. After dodging a defender, Burton had a clear view of the net. Drew bobbled his shot, but the puck fell over goal line to set the final score at 6-2.

Colgate outshot Sacred Heart 31-14 on the night, and limited the Pioneers to just one shot in the third period. Dekanich needed to make just 12 saves to earn the win, while Drew finished with 25 stops in the loss. The Raiders went 0-for-6 on the power play, while SHU was 2-for-5. Colgate dominated in the faceoff circle, 35-25, led by Burton who won 15 of his 19 draws.

The Raiders conclude their opening weekend by hosting RIT on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7:00 p.m., at Starr Rink.