Hunt's Hat Trick Paces Colgate to Victory

Boxscore

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Junior Sam Hunt (Calgary, Alta.) scored her third career hat trick to lead the Colgate women's hockey team to a 7-3 win against visiting Wayne State on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Starr Rink. The Raiders' record improves to 4-7-1 overall this season, while the Warriors drop to 8-5-1.

After a scoreless first period, Colgate opened the floodgates in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Hunt netted all three of her goals, including a short-handed score and what proved to be the game-winner, during the middle frame. Each team added three goals in the third period, including a shorthanded empty-netter for the Raiders during the final minute of the game.

Hunt's first goal got Colgate the 1-0 lead 1:15 into the second period. After receiving the puck from junior Elin Brown (Calgary, Alta.), Hunt skated into the zone, went around her defender, and scored on the left side.

She followed it up with a shorthanded score that came off a play that was the mirror image of her first goal. Sophomore Katie Stewart (Exeter, Ont.) broke her toward the other end. After dodging two defenders, Hunt used a nifty between-the-legs move to fool Wayne State goalie Tiffany Thompson and put her team up 2-0 at the 6:47 mark.

Colgate made it 3-0 midway through the second period. Ruth Fish had the puck behind the goal line on the left side, and she sent a pass in front to Jacquie Colborne near the left circle. Colborne crossed the puck down to Clancy Todd, and she scored backdoor.

Hunt completed the hat trick with just under five minutes to play in the period. Brown took a shot from close range, and Thompson made the save. The rebound came to sophomore Ali Edell (Madison, N.J.) in the slot, and she tried again. Once again, Thompson was up to the task, but the third rebound found Hunt in the right circle, where she was covered by two defenders. Hunt went around them to get a clear shot and beat Thompson to make the Raiders lead by four. The goal was enough to chase Thompson from between the pipes, and she was replaced by Valery Turcotte.

The Raiders continued to pour on the offense in the third period, starting just 93 seconds after they returned from the lockerroom. Sophomore Beth Rotenberg (Toronto, Ont.) found senior Kate Wolgemuth (Anchorage, Alaska) in front of the net, and she shot through traffic. Turcotte stopped her shot, but senior Kara Leene (Waterbury, Vt.) scored off the rebound.

The Warriors finally got on the board during a power play 2:42 into the third period. Adrianna Pfeffer passed the puck to Ashley King, who beat Colgate freshman goaltender Lisa Plenderleith (Ajax, Ont.) to make the scoreboard read 5-1 in favor of the home team.

Colgate was quick to answer, however, as the team's sixth goal came at the 6:11 mark. Fish found junior Clancy Todd (Thorold, Ont.) to the right of the crease, and Johnston crossed it to Colborne, who scored into the open side of the net.

Wayne State responded just 19 seconds later. Amanda Hungle won the puck in the right corner, then passed it ahead to Becky Sonn. Sonn centered it to Pfeffer, who scored from the slot.

The Warriors made it two in a row when the added a third goal 44 seconds later. Tina Vanderhoeven sent a headman pass to Sam Poyton, who weaved through the offensive zone before finding the back of the net.

WSU ended the game on the power play, and put Turcotte on the bench with 1:20 left in hopes of getting another goal. However, it was Colgate who was able to capitalize on the opportunity as freshman Hannah Milan (Great Barrington, Mass.) broke sophomore Evan Minnick (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) toward the other end, where she scored shorthanded into the open cage.

Plenderleith earned the third win of her career after making 18 saves. Thompson finished her appearance with 12 saves, and Turcotte posted 13 stops in relief. Colgate outshot Wayne State, 32-21, including limiting the Warriors to just two shots in the first period.

The Raiders return to league play next weekend when they host Princeton on Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:00 p.m., and Quinnipiac on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 3:00 p.m.