Opponent
School: Colgate
Mascot: Raiders
Coach: Mike Murphy
Location: Hamilton, NY
Conference: Patriot League
Game Location: Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium
Game Time: Nooner!
Television/Radio: CBS Sports Net, TK99/105
Weather: 56 Degrees, Raining
All-Time Syracuse Record Vs. Opponent: 47-11-1
Previous Matchup: 18-3 SU Win
Opponent Ranking: N/R
Quick Facts
2017 Record: 5-8
2017 Conference Record: 3-5
2016 Conference Postseason Results: N/A
2016 NCAA Tournament Postseason Results: N/A
2017 Team Statistics
Total Goals– Shot Attempts: 123-480
Total Opponent Goals– Shot Attempts: 138-473
EMO Goals (Percentage): 14 (.359)
EMO Goals Against (Percentage): 10 (.313)
Team Shooting Percentage: .256
Opponent Shooting Percentage: .292
Shots on Goal Percentage: .544
Opponent Shots on Goal Percentage: .609
Groundballs: 352
Opponent Groundballs: 382
Turnovers: 192
Caused Turnovers: 60
Faceoffs: 164-307 (.534)
Clearing Percentage: 187-212 (.882)
Opponent Clearing Percentage: 216-255 (.847)
Penalties: 33 (25:30 PIM)
The Colgate Raiders come into Saturday’s contest with a 5-8 record, having only beat one team with a winning record. Against opponents which the Syracuse Orange have also played, the Raiders are 2-3.
Last season, Syracuse hosted Colgate and blasted the Raiders in an 18-3 win with the Orange scoring eight goals in the third period and the ‘Gate having just one tally through three periods.
This should be a good warm up for the Orange. If they come out and play a close game I will certainly be worried that last weekend didn’t give them the kick in the rear they needed.
ATTACK
Sam Cleveland, a Rivers School guy(!), was the leading point scorer as a freshman last year and is doing it again this year. He has a very smooth looking outside shot. Cleveland is joined on the attack line by Anthony Abbadessa, a junior from Arizona. Abbadessa has 19 goals and 13 assists on the year, his shots come just off cage and many of them are contested. He’s very comfortable shooting off-foot and on the run. Chase Wittich did not start the last game against Lafayette but I would expect him to be on the starting roster on Saturday. The Junior has started 31 games in his three year career and has 14 goals and six assists in 2017.
MIDFIELD
The leading goal scorer for the Raiders is freshman Griffin Brown who has 23 through 13 games. Brown played high school ball at the Landon School in Maryland but is actually a Virginian. He has scored three goals twice this season and had a five point game against the Hobart Statesmen. Peter Donato is a three year starter at the midfield for Colgate. The senior has always been more of an assist man than a goal scorer and this year is no different as he has six goals and 12 assists including four assists in a win over Navy. Nicky Petkevich will be the second freshman to play on the first midfield line on Saturday. He has started every game but the opener versus the Marist Red Foxes and has five multi-point games on the year.
FACEOFF
How about this!? We got two Rivers School guys on this team! #49 Collin Orr went 1-6 at the X last year versus SU and 0-5 against Ben Williams. The junior is 22nd in the nation in faceoff winning percentage at .566 while leading his team in groundballs with 63 leaving him 28th in the nation in GBs per game.
DEFENSE
Jackson Patterson is a second year starter at close defense and has 16 groundballs and three caused turnovers in his senior year. Strecker Backe is a natural long-stick midfielder and has eight caused turnovers this season. Sophomore Ryan Caley will be the third defenseman for the ‘Gate.
GOAL
Brandon Burke comes from a goalie producing family. His brother Stephen played in net at Hopkins while his other brother Jordan was a standout goalie for the Brown Bears and went on to start in the MLL for the Boston Cannons. The youngest Burke has had 12 or more saves six times this season making 18 stops twice this year. He has a .524 save percentage this year along with a 10.92 goals against average. Last year, Burke allowed 15 goals while making nine saves in almost 44 minutes of play against the Orange.
The Syracuse Orange and Colgate Raiders will faceoff in Hamilton, NY at noon on Saturday. The game can be seen on the CBS Sports Network and heard on TK99/105. Of course, you can also follow me @Orangelax for updates.