Colgate Captures SIT Title After 15-Year Drought

Sunday, November 28, 1999
by Juan Martinez

SYRACUSE, NY -- The Colgate Red Raiders scored twice within two minutes of play in the third period to capture the Syracuse Invitational Tournament title for the first time since 1984. The 3-2 win over the Niagara Purple Eagles also avenged last year's double-overtime defeat at the hands of the Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based college.

"I'm happy for these guys. They have to listen to it," said Colgate coach Don Vaughan in reference to the annual stories of the Red Raiders' failing to win the SIT."

Colgate came out strong in the first period and took immediate control by dominating play in the Purple Eagles' zone. The Red Raiders cashed in at 2:01 when they skated down ice on a two-on-one break.

Senior Andy McDonald carried the puck into the Niagara zone and when the defenseman dropped to the ice, he slipped the puck under the player and over to linemate Darryl Campbell, who one-timed the puck by goaltender Greg Gardner.

At 14:54 the Purple Eagles seemed to have scored their first goal of the night when Red Raiders' netminder Shep Harder appeared to have reached over his shoulder and behind the goal line to stop the puck. Despite the fact that the goal judge turned the red light on to signify the tally, referee Tim Kotyra overruled him.

"It clearly went by the goaltender," said Niagara coach Blaise MacDonald. "We thought it went in, but [Kotyra] said he was right there and it didn't go in."

The Purple Eagles eventually tied the score when they converted on their first-power play opportunity in the contest. Colgate freshman Steve Silversides fell to the ice in an attempt to cover up a loose puck in the slot, but it somehow squeezed out from underneath him and to Niagara senior Jay Kasperek, who quickly roofed a shot over Harder at 16:33.

Kasperek scored his second goal of the game at 8:46 of the second period when, while standing in the right faceoff circle, he blasted the rebound of Nate Handrahan's shot from the right point by Harder.

Colgate tied the game 6:16 into the third stanza. After junior Pat Varecka won a faceoff deep in the Niagara zone, defenseman Bryan Long swept in from the left corner, skated through the slot and backhanded the puck through the legs of Gardner.

"That was a big goal," said Vaughan. "It was unbelievable. Bryan is a good offensive defenseman, but we've pulled him back a bit this year... he did the right thing there, we've talked about it. He saw the open lane and finished the play."

The Red Raiders went on top 1:52 later when Campbell intercepted a pass at his own blue line as the Purple Eagles were setting up their power play. The senior forward skated the length of the ice and blasted a slapshot over Gardner's glove for a shorthanded tally.

"We still need to understand that consistency is a big part of this game," said MacDonald. "We were up 2-1 and missed three opportunities in the second period. We didn't convert on some great opportunities."

Gardner finished the game with 27 saves, while Harder made 25. Niagara was 1-2 on the power play to Colgate's 0-2.

Juan Martinez is an ECAC game reporter for U.S. College Hockey Online.