Colgate Takes 4-3 Comeback Win Over Bears in Home Finale

Providence, R.I. – The Bears (2-20-4, 0-17-3) lost a 4-3 heartbreaker on Senior Day at Meehan on Saturday afternoon, as the Colgate Raiders (10-18-4, 6-10-4) took a comeback win behind four goals from senior Katie Stewart.  The Bears got two points apiece from rookies Alena Polenska and Laurie Jolin, and held leads of 2-0 and 3-1, but couldn’t hold off a late charge by the Raiders despite 33 saves from freshman goalie Katie Jamieson.

The first period was one of the best of the season for the Bears, as they took a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes on a pair of back-to-back goals in the span of just 1:03.  After nearly 10 minutes of shutout hockey, rookie Alena Polenska scored her fifth goal of the season at the 9:57 mark, giving Brown an early 1-0 lead.  Classmate Laurie Jolin received an assist on the play, giving both players a team-leading nine points for the season.

Just over a minute later, the Bears struck again, as seniors Sasha Van Muyen and Nicole Brown hooked up for a Senior Day goal.  After Brown had her initial shot saved, Van Muyen came flying in for the rebound, and knocked in back into net, scoring her team-best sixth goal of the season.  Brown picked up the assist, also tying her for the team lead with six, and the Bears headed into the locker room with their biggest first period lead of the season.

Colgate came out firing in the second frame, however, scoring three goals in the period and coming back with a fury.  After the Raiders scored early to cut the deficit to 2-1, the Bears answered back though, as junior Jenna Dancewicz scored her fourth of the season.  Jolin and Polenska each received an assist on the play, breaking the duo into double digits for total points on the season.  Colgate answered quickly though, as Katie Stewart picked up a hat trick in the middle period for the Raiders, scoring at 5:04, 14:15, and 17:56 in the frame to pull the visitors into a 3-3 tie at the second intermission.

Stewart struck again early in the third, scoring her fourth of the game just over five minutes into the frame, and giving Colgate a 4-3 lead.  Though the Bears had several good scoring chances as the period went on, particularly in the last two minutes after pulling Jamieson for the extra attacker, they were unable to get the puck past Colgate goalie Lisa Plenderleith, and the Raiders held on for a 4-3 win.

The Bears will be back in action on Friday, February 19, when they travel to New Jersey to take on the Princeton Tigers at 7:00 p.m.

Pictured Above: Alena Polenska ’13. Photo by Dave Silverman of dspics.com.