With a complete offensive eruption, led by Jarrett Sampson's '06 hat trick, Dartmouth came back from four goals down to defeat the No. 6 Wildcats of New Hampshire Wednesday night.
The Big Green began a four game stretch against ranked opponents with the fourth annual "Battle for the Riverstone Cup" at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. In what Coach Bob Gaudet described as a "bizarre-o game," Dartmouth's resiliency and composure helped the team capture its first ever Riverstone Cup and conquer in-state rival New Hampshire, 9-8.
The game began with a flurry of scoring with the teams combining for seven goals in the period. New Hampshire struck first on sophomore forward Jacob Micflikier's seventh score of the season at 5:23. Micflikier's goal was followed two minutes later by junior defensemen Brian Yandle's first of two goals on the night. Mike Ouellette '06 put Dartmouth on the board at 10:46, finding the back of the net on a shot from the right circle.
Less than a minute later, the lead was back to two after freshman Brian Pouliot beat Dan Yacey '05. Dartmouth was quick to respond when Sampson fed Eric Przepiorka '06, who made it 3-2. The first period scoring spree continued, as Wildcat senior Preston Callander's goal with 5:15 remaining in the frame was once again countered immediately by Dartmouth. Przepiorka returned the favor to Sampson, finding the sophomore forward for his first of three goals on the night.
With the score 4-3 in favor of UNH, those in attendance at VWA had no time to catch their breath. The Wildcats came out firing, tallying three goals in eight minutes and extending their lead to 7-3.
Up to this point in the season, Dartmouth had yet to come back from more than one goal down, but this game was clearly different. The Big Green's intensity and focus never let down, allowing the team to begin its own surge late in the second period.
With 2:19 left, Sampson took the puck from mid-ice and scored his second goal of the game, unassisted. Then, with 54 seconds on the clock, Dartmouth befuddled the New Hampshire defense with a surprise scheme. Gaudet pulled goalie Mike Devine '08 with Dartmouth in control of the puck. The unorthodox move paid off, and with the extra skater, the Big Green cut New Hampshire's lead to 7-5 heading into the third.
Just 51 seconds into the final frame, UNH senior Justin Aikins put the Wildcats up 8-5. But this was not the Big Green of old, and Aikins' goal was not the dagger of defeat.
The College remained aggressive around New Hampshire's net, capitalizing twice with eight minutes on the clock. Sean Offers '06 scored the first goal, bringing Dartmouth within two. Sampson followed, completing his hat trick and making it an 8-7 game.
"It was just one of those games where the puck went in for me," Sampson said. "I scored early and was pretty pumped about it, so I basically just road that wave of momentum. I also think the UNH style of play is a more free-flowing transitional game, and I feel that my style of play fits better in that style of game."
With the team's deficit whittled down to one, Dartmouth's rookies stepped up and closed out the Wildcats. At 17:32, David Jones '08 completed the miraculous comeback after successfully rebounding Nathan Syzmanski's '05 original shot on goal. One minute later, the Big Green garnered its first lead of the contest as Nick Johnson '08 backhanded the puck into the goal on a pass from Lee Stempniak '05. Euphoria reached Dartmouth's bench as the game ended, 9-8.
When asked to account for his offensive success while still just a freshman, Johnson -- who leads all freshmen with 13 points -- selflessly credited his line.
"My two line mates [Stempniak and Ouellette] are extremely smart hockey players and feed me the puck a lot. They seem to know where I am at all times, and I think we work pretty well together. However, I'm definitely starting to gain more confidence."
Once more, Dartmouth hopes to feed off the momentum of a tremendous victory and to carry their optimism into the weekend.
The Big Green men travel to Burlington to confront 14th-ranked Vermont on Saturday, a team they have already proven themselves against once.
As Sampson put it, "[the New Hampshire game] gives everybody on the outside a glimpse at what every guy in our dressing room believes: we are capable of being a great hockey team."
