Box Score Yale Gets 2-2 Tie With Colgate
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Bulldogs accomplished the weekend's primary goal tonight, securing a first-round bye in the ECAC Tournament, but they were not satisfied with the result. John Baiocco and Rob O'Gara hit the net and Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots as Yale earned a 2-2 OT tie with Colgate before a packed Ingalls Rink.
"It was a just result for this game," said Keith Allain '80, Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach. "I can accept this result."
The Bulldogs (16-7-5, 11-6-4), currently in third and two points up on a pair of teams, secured a bye through next week's first round and will host an ECAC Quarterfinal series the following weekend. Yale stayed at No. 15 in the Pairwise, four spots ahead of Colgate.
The Raiders, one of the best teams in the conference the last half of the season, had a 33-25 edge in shots. They engaged the Elis in one of the most physical games at the Whale this season.
The Yale captain was happy his squad got the bye, but not so thrilled with the draw.
"The taste of disappointment will last only a few more seconds," said Tommy Fallen. "We will learn from our mistakes and be better tomorrow.
After a scoreless, choppy first period, the Bulldogs and Raiders combined for a wild, three-goal frame and a 2-1 lead for the home team.
Trailing 1-0, Biaocco, who increased his point streak to four games, crashed the net on an Adam Larkin shot from the point. A pile of players swiped at the rebound in the slot before it popped to the right side where the freshman was moving to. Biaocco smacked it past a defender and the goalie at 6:01 to even things.
Yale grabbed the lead 13 seconds later after Carson Cooper made a big hit at center ice while moving the puck to a teammate. Cody Learned got it, skated over the blueline and then sent it across to O'Gara, who was winding up and ready to fire. The puck came across smooth and O'Gara one-timed it past Charlie Finn for his sixth of the year.
Colgate, which outshot the Blue 16-10 in the middle period, made it 2-2 early in the third. Both teams had one power play over the last half of the period and neither team managed a shot on target during the advantages. However, both netminders still had to come up with big saves.
Lyon made a great save with three minutes left in regulation and then stopped everyone's heart for a few seconds when he squeezed Joe Wilson's shot with 2:10 left in the overtime.
"It sucks not to win in our home barn, but we have to be happy with a point," said Cooper, who had the biggest hit of the night. "Two turnovers [both of Colgate's goals] hurt us. We can't make those in big games."
The Raiders had the only shots in the extra time and that was the last one. The Raider forward came in alone and tried to tuck a backhander under the sophomore.
"Alex was especially good for us because there are not too many nights when we get outshot," said Allain, a former Eli goalie. "He was needed even more tonight."
BULLDOG BITES
Saturday's game with Cornell will determine the Ivy League title. Dartmouth has a one-point lead over the Bulldogs after its final Ancient Eight game tonight. Yale's last Ivy contest is tomorrow… Mark Arcobello '10, who tied an NHL record by playing with four NHL teams in one season, scored a goal in his 100th NHL game last night at MSG…. Tonight's game aired live on ESPN3 and the Ivy Digital Network… Alex Westlund '99, who played this season for China Dragon, was the second-intermission guest on the broadcast.
Filed by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director
Baiocco image by Jack Warhola
