Quinnipiac survives with 4-3 overtime win over Colgate

Quinnipiac at Colgate (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

The Quinnipiac Bobcats blew a 3-1 lead in the final minute, but senior Bo Pieper scored 22 seconds into overtime to come away with a 4-3 win over the Colgate Raiders at Class of 1965 Arena on Friday night in Hamilton, New York. With the win, Quinnipiac improves to 8-10-2 (4-5-10 ECAC) and are tied for 5th in the ECAC standings with Colgate though the Raiders have three games in hand on Quinnipiac. 

The home team broke the ice first scoring 14:38 into the opening frame on a power play goal by Adam Duada in which Quinnipiac goaltender Andrew Shortridge (20 saves) was screened in front. The teams were more or less even in the first period and Quinnipiac's best chance was late when Landon Smith's back-handed attempt was stoned by Zac Hamilton who was filling in for Colton Point who won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. 

Just 45 seconds into the second period Quinnipiac found the back of the net when Tanner MacMaster's fed a soft back-handed pass to Odeen Tufto who was racing into the slot where he buried his 4th goal of the season. A little under five minutes later sophomore Alex Whelan gave the Bobcats a lead on a re-direct from John Furgele's shot in which there was a load of traffic in front of Hamilton. Whelan struck again just under 3 minutes later when he sent a shot through traffic that found the back of the net for his team leading 9th goal of the season. 

Quinnipiac at Colgate (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

In the third period with the Bobcats holding a two goal lead, the teams traded six penalties in the period though neither could team found the back of the net. Just when it looked like Quinnipiac had the game sealed in the final minute, Colgate's Nick Austin scored to trim the Bobcats to one with an extra attacker goal. With just 13 seconds left Colgate's Adam Duada's found a loose puck in front of Shortridge and quickly put it past him for his second goal of the game to tie the score at three. 22 seconds into overtime Brogan Rafferty shot was re-directed by Pieper past Hamilton giving Quinnipiac a much needed victory.

The Bobcats out shot Colgate 30-23 and both Alex Whelan (2 goals) and John Furgele (2 assists) had multi-point games. Quinnipiac returns to action on Saturday night when they travel to Ithaca, New York to face the Cornell Big Red who are fresh off a 7-1 win over Princeton. 

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