Dartmouth women's hockey continued to add to their best start in the history of the program with a dominating five-to-two win over the Clarkson University Golden Knights on Friday evening. On the reverse side of the puck, Clarkson continued on their winless streak, going 0-4-1 in their last five games.
The Big Green got off to a fast start when Tiffany Hagge '06 netted the first goal of the game just seven seconds into the first period. Katie Weatherston '06 gave Dartmouth a two-goal lead at 13:26 that the team would carry into the second period.
The Golden Knights came out strong to start the second period. Emma Madigan scored fifty-six seconds in, and Brooke Beazer tied the game at two with a power play goal at 7:24. Barely a second later, the Big Green bounced back to take the lead permanently on a power-play goal by Cherie Piper '06 at 8:38. Piper received a pass from goalie Christi Capuano '07 and took the puck the length of the ice to give the Big Green the lead. Dartmouth scored twice more before the end of the period. Weatherston scored a power-play goal at 13:46 off a rebound from Gillian Apps '06. Piper then added her second goal of the night with thirty-two seconds left in the period.
The third period was scoreless, but Dartmouth dominated. A key factor in the win was Dartmouth's speed -- the team's ability to get to the puck first on the fore-check essentially neutralized Clarkson's power plays in the third period. Clarkson finished the game one for six on power plays, going 0-3 in the third period, while Dartmouth went two for five.
Commenting on the game, Dartmouth coach Mark Hudak said: "We played well, we just need to execute better on individual responsibilities."
Less than a day after beating Clarkson, the team regrouped Saturday to face one of their toughest tests of the season -- St. Lawrence -- to whom they lost four times last year. This was one exam the Lady Green passed with flying colors, succeeding in their revenge with a convincing 5-1 win.
The Big Green (17-1-0, 10-0-0 ECAC) opened the scoring at 5:51 off of a Meredith Batcheller '07 slapshot. Meagan Walton '05 and Apps assisted on the goal. The Saints' (15-4-3, 5-2-1 ECAC) Emilie Berlinguette answered with a shorthanded goal at 7:43. The two teams played evenly for the rest of the period, but Hagge scored what would become the winning goal at 15:53. Apps and Walton assisted again. Apps' second assist of the game lifted her career points total to 99.
Krista Dornfried '05 intercepted an outlet pass to give herself a breakaway and unassisted goal at 8:00. The 3-1 lead seemed to give Dartmouth the momentum for the rest of the game.
"We stopped skating after they score their third goal," St. Lawrence coach Paul Flanagan said. "We didn't respond."
Piper scored at 13:56 with a wrist shot that went off the post and in, extending her point streak to 22 games.
Play got a little chippy at the end of the second period when Dartmouth's Dornfried and St. Lawrence's Tracy Muzerall exchanged blows after the whistle penalties. Muzerall showed her frustration, hitting Dornfried in the face. The two teams would remain physical, but there would be no more penalties after the whistle.
"I'm happy about how we kept our heads," Hudak said. "The girls were talking about staying calm on the bench."
Caroline Ethier '07 rounded out the scoring at 10:55 of the third period, making the score to 5-1. Streaking down the right side, Ethier took a hard and impressive slapshot that went off the far post and into the net.
Dartmouth's goalie Kate Lane '06 played extremely well, letting up only one goal on 24 shots. Hudak expressed satisfaction and was with pleased with his goalie's performance.
"Lanie did a nice job," Hudak said. "She played a good, solid, technical game. She isn't very flashy, but she made some real nice, athletic saves."
Dartmouth looks ahead to two more ECAC home games next week against Cornell and Colgate.
