Colgate Wins Season Opener Over Robert Morris
OMAHA, Neb. (10/7/11) –Robbie Bourdon and Kurtis Bartliff
each posted
two points with a goal and assist apiece, while the rookies also
made
an impact as the Colgate men’s hockey team beat Robert
Morris, 3-1, in
the season opener at the Mutual of Omaha Stampede.
Colgate (1-0) got goals from Bourdon, Bartliff and rookie Joe
Wilson.
Rookie John Lidgett made his presence felt in his first
collegiate
game with two assists. Austin Smith and McCann also earned assists
in
the win. Netminder Alex Evin pushed aside 16 shots to start the
season
with a victory. All 16 saves came after giving up a goal on his
first
shot faced.
Robert Morris (0-1) got its lone goal in the first period from
Trevor
Lewis with the assist to Ron Cramer. Brooks Ostergard made 17
saves in
the loss.
The Colonials went up 1-0 on their first shot of the contest,
which
came on the power play. Lewis received a pass from Cramer on a
rush
and put a shot past the glove of Evin, just 3:59 into the
first
period. The Raiders evened the score with 1:14 left in the
opening
frame as Bourdon was able to put home a rebound. Lidgett was given
the
assist for his first collegiate point after putting the first shot
on
net. Colgate had nine shots to five for the Colonials, but RMU
scored
on special teams, while the Raiders didn’t get a chance on
the power
play.
Bartliff gave the Raiders their first lead at 2-1 with a goal
6:17
into the second period. Once again it was a rebound that came free
to
Bartliff during a scrum in front of the net. Lidgett was given
his
second helper of the night and Bourdon recorded his second point
with
an assist. Wagner almost made it 3-1 after a turnover by RMU and
he
deked Ostergard and flipped the puck off the post for the second
time
in the game.
The Raiders got a much-needed insurance goal after being snake
bitten
in the early part of the third period. Smith entered the zone
with
McCann down the center and Wilson on the opposite wing. He slipped
a
pass to Wilson, who one-timed the puck into the net for his
first
collegiate goal. McCann was given an assist as well after giving
the
puck to Smith in the neutral zone.
Colgate got three chances on the power play and came up empty on
each
opportunity, while Robert Morris went 1-for-4 on the man
advantage.
The Raiders won the shot battle by a 20-17 margin.
The Raiders will play in the championship game of the Mutual of
Omaha
Stampede tomorrow afternoon. Game time is to be announced as
Nebraska-Omaha plays the late game no matter the outcome of its
game
against Mercyhurst tonight. The early game is set for 5:07 p.m.
EST,
while the late game with be at 8:07 p.m. EST. Fans can check out
the
Men’s Hockey Game Central page to get an updated game time
for
tomorrow’s game.
NOTES: The second line of Bartliff, Bourdon and Lidgett combined
for
two goals and five points … Lidgett becomes first rookie
with two
assists since Austin Smith did so against UMass Lowell in 2008
…
Raiders get goal from a rookie in the season opener for the
second-straight year after McCann scored last year …
Colgate was
4-18-3 after giving up first goal in 2010-11 … this was the
eighth
meeting since 2007-08 between these two schools and that is the
most
against a non-conference opponent over that period of time
… Wagner
was snake bitten all night as he hit the post twice and was robbed
by
Ostergard two times as well and then missed an open net at the end
of
the game … Colgate is 9-7-3 in season openers under Don
Vaughan …
Raiders have gone unbeaten in nine of their last 10 season openers
…
Colgate ends two-game losing streak to RMU and lead the series,
5-2-1.
