At last year's "Battle for the Riverstone," Dartmouth goalkeeper Dan Yacey '05 was named Player of the Game by the media after stopping 34 shots in a 1-1 tie between the Big Green and UNH.
This year's incarnation of the in-state rivalry featured another remarkable performance in net. Unfortunately for No. 16 Dartmouth (6-4-5, 4-1-3 ECAC), the net belonged to the No. 9 Wildcats (12-7-3, 6-3-3 Hockey East), and the keeper was Mike Ayers.
Ayers stopped all 30 shots he faced, and UNH captain Steve Saviano notched a hat trick as the Wildcats took home a 5-0 win at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. It was the first time that Dartmouth had been held scoreless since Jan. 24 of last year, when Union's Kris Mayotte was perfect in net for a 2-0 Dutchmen win.
"I thought Ayers played well," said Big Green head coach Bob Gaudet '81. "I thought that UNH took advantage of some good opportunities and timely bounces, but I thought that our kids generated pretty well [on offense]."
Dartmouth appeared to strike first blood with 14:42 to play in the first period, but Max Guimond's goal was disallowed. After turning back breakaway chances by Darcy Marr and Jarrett Sampson, UNH goalkeeper Mike Ayers was knocked into the net, which came off of its moorings before Guimond shot the puck.
"I would have liked to have the first one," Gaudet said, "and hopefully, maybe it would have been a little different, but it wasn't in the cards."
The Wildcats appeared to have a breakaway of their own in the game's ninth minute, but Dartmouth keeper Dan Yacey '05 gave Nathan Martz very little room and stopped the eventual shot.
UNH would score at the 10:15 mark, however, after Preston Callander picked up a loose rebound, backed away from the net, then sent the puck top shelf for his tenth goal of the season.
A Dartmouth powerplay resulted in several Big Green shots, but Ayers was up to the task for the full two minutes. A UNH powerplay, however, lasted only nine seconds before co-captain Steve Saviano lifted the puck into the back of the net. Sean Collins and Justin Aikins assisted on the goal, which gave the Wildcats a two-goal lead heading into the first intermission.
Saviano scored again 5:21 into the second period, beating Yacey five-hole from the right face-off circle. With UNH up by three, time was running out for the Big Green.
Dartmouth had its best chance to climb into the game when the team was awarded a 5-on-3 power play, but Ayers remained rock-solid in net, and not long after Mick Mounsey came out of the box, a Wildcat breakaway led to Saviano's third goal of the game.
In the third period, Gaudet took the opportunity to give extra seasoning to rookie netminder Sean Samuel '07, as the freshman would play the last 20 minutes of Dartmouth's non-conference schedule. The Mississaauga, Ont., native fared only a little better than his teammate had, as Callander potted his second of the night with 12 minutes to play. Ayers continued to stand tall in net, and the Wildcats took home the Riverstone. Ayers and Saviano shared Player of the Game honors.
Dartmouth was without the services of captain Brian Van Abel '04, who injured his ankle in a captain's practice on Sunday. "He's the toughest kid that I've ever coached," Gaudet said of Van Abel. "Brian will be back before anybody that I've ever coached. If there's a way, he'll be back." Meanwhile, according to Gaudet, "we've got to play without him."
"Playing without him" will next mean a home ECAC weekend against Clarkson and St. Lawrence. The Golden Knights will come to Thompson Arena on Friday night, while the Saints will follow on Saturday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
