Raiders Drop First League Game to Harvard

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Senior Evan Minnick (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored her second goal of the season, but Raiders couldn't hold on, falling to Harvard 2-1 Friday afternoon at Starr Rink. 

The Raiders were put to the test early, after Minnick took a five-minute major penalty for boarding just a minute and a half into the game, giving the Crimson an extended power-play. The penalty killers of Colgate, however shut down the neutral zone, preventing Harvard from gaining the Raider zone and allowing only one shot on goal in that time.  

The Raiders got on the board first just five minutes into the second period, when Marissa Dombovy (Webster, N.Y.) cycled the puck behind the goal to Minnick who jetted toward the goal and lifted a backhand shot near post, past the blocker of Crimson net-minder Christina Kessler. The goal was Minnick's second of the season.  

Colgate would give up its lead six minutes later, after a shot from the right point by Harvard defender Leanna Coskren beat Lisa Plenderleith (Ajax, Ont.) high to the stick side, evening the score at one apiece.  

Harvard would strike again with 1:10 left in the second, as senior Anna McDonald picked up a pass from Katharine Chute at the left face-off circle and wristed a shot past the glove of Plenderleith, giving the Crimson a 2-1 lead going into the third period.  

The Raiders applied relentless pressure in the final period, but were unable to capitalize. Jessi Waters (Menlo Park, Calif.) had the best scoring opportunity for the squad, one-timing a shot on net from the hash marks, but Kessler was up to the challenge.  

Colgate out-shot the Crimson 16-4 in the third period and 30-22 on the day, but came up one goal shy, as Harvard took its first game of the season, 2-1.  

Plenderleith ended the contest making 20 saves, while Kessler stopped 29 Colgate shots for the win.  

The win kick starts the Crimson season, making them 1-0-0, while the Raiders drop to 1-6-0, and 0-1 in ECAC league play.  

Colgate will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they face off against the Big Green of Dartmouth at Starr Rink. The puck drops at 3:30 p.m.