Nicky Petkevich scored four goals, Griffin Brown added a goal and two assists, and Colgate shocked No. 11 Syracuse in its season opener, 12-9, on Friday night at the Carrier Dome.
Colgate led throughout, jumping on Syracuse with three early goals. An unassisted goal from Duncan Hoskinson with 1:18 in the first quarter put the Raiders up 3-0. Though Syracuse would pull to within a goal three times during the night, Colgate was nonplussed, calmly reestablishing its lead each time.
Syracuse pulled to within 3-2, 7-6, and 10-9. The last one-goal margin game with 7:09 to go in the fourth. But Hoskinson scored on a man-up opportunity, and Petkevich scored his fourth goal of the afternoon with 1:31 left to put the game out of reach.
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It was a shocking result, with the Orange losing to Colgate for the first time since 2008. Syracuse has dominated the all-time series, holding a 49-11-1 record.
Though Syracuse and Colgate were relatively even in the shots (41-36) and turnovers (18-18) categories, the Raiders won more 50/50 balls. Colgate won the ground ball battle 31-25 while clearing successfully on 18 of 21 tries. Syracuse was just 15 of 20 on those opportunities.
Syracuse goalie Drake Porter notched 15 saves in his first collegiate start, while Brendan Curry and Nate Solomon each chipped in a hat trick.
SU will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 16 against Albany at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
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