This past weekend, the women’s hockey team played two home games against ECAC competitors Yale and Brown. Although Colgate had a tough 3-0 loss to Yale, they came back the next day and defeated Brown 4-3 in overtime.

Early in the first period against the Yale Bulldogs, the Raiders were awarded two man-up opportunities, but they were unable to convert on either. Later in the period, after a checking call on Colgate, Yale scored on the power play to give them the early lead. 

In the following two periods, Colgate fired several good shots on net, but none made it past Yale goalie Jaimie Leonoff. First-year forward Megan Sullivan led Colgate in shots with four attempts, but Yale ultimately outshot Colgate 27-18. Registering two more goals in the second period, the Bulldogs secured a 3-0 win.

The next day, Colgate returned to Starr Rink take on Brown. Just 28 seconds into the first period, Sullivan moved the puck to fellow first-year forward Annika Zalewski, who took a shot that was rebounded to sophomore defenseman Hannah Rastrick. The defender fired the puck into the back of the net, giving the Raiders an early 1-0 advantage over the Bears.

In the second period, Brown answered with a goal to tie up the game, but senior captain Miriam Drubel’s short-handed goal, with an assist from Sullivan, brought the lead back to the Raiders. 

Three minutes into the final period, Brown registered a goal to tie up the game 2-2. However, senior forward Taylor Craig finished her own rebound ten minutes into the period, giving the Raiders the advantage once again. Two minutes later, Brown answered with another goal, tying the game at three and sending the Raiders into their first overtime of the season.

In the third minute of overtime, senior defender Katie Case connected with Sullivan, who found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season and to earn the 4-3 win for Colgate.

“I think that we have all recognized the importance of league play, so naturally, everyone has been stepping up competitively both on and off the ice. We practice how we want to play. As a team, we really just have to focus on playing a full 60 minutes of hockey. We cannot take any shifts off if we want to be successful,” senior captain Melissa Kueber.

The Raiders are back on the ice on Tuesday to take on Cornell in Ithaca, followed by a two-game series against Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa. on the 25th and 26th of November.