The No. 8 Dartmouth (16-6-2, 13-3-2 ECAC) battle with Brown (5-17-1, 4-12 ECAC) was all about goaltending in the first period. Dartmouth goalie Carli Clemis '09 and Brown netminder Nicole Stock each made impressive saves, as both teams failed to capitalize on their power play chances.
Even though Dartmouth dominated the shot count 49-19, Stock was the big story with 48 saves, including 19 in the second period. The Big Green had trouble creating good scoring opportunities. In its power play during the second period, Dartmouth fired seven shots, but Stock saved all of them.
"It was clear their goalie came here ready for redemption, after coming off of a 9-1 loss to us a few weeks ago," Clemis said. "She definitely showed up."
Dartmouth also had scoring opportunities in the third period, but Stock kept coming up with great saves.
Finally, with 5:40 left in the game, and during a power play, Kelly Foley '12 got the puck from the end line to Jenna Cunningham '10. Cunningham found senior co-captain Sarah Newnam '09 in the high slot. Newnam fired a slap shot, beating Stock to the top shelf on the glove side for the game-winning goal.
"We were in a bit of a lull coming off the ice after the second period, but after a rallying battle-cry from Katie Gray ['09] in the locker room, we started the third more pumped up than I've seen in quite a while," Clemis said.
The Big Green was one-for-three on the man-advantage to extend its streak to six-straight games with a power-play goal. Dartmouth committed just one penalty throughout the entire game.
On Saturday, Dartmouth played a close game with Yale (9-15-0, 5-12-0 ECAC, 2-6-0 Ivy), but managed to hold on for an important victory as the Big Green continues to battle St. Lawrence University for the top spot in ECAC Hockey standings.
Dartmouth got on the board first at 1:42 in the opening period, when Sarah Toupal '10 netted her third goal of the season. Toupal received a pass from Reagan Fischer '12 and then skated into the offensive zone down the left side. Toupal fired a shot from outside the circle, beating Yale's freshman goalie Genny Ladiges to give Dartmouth the lead, 1-0.
Yale was quick to counter, though. At the 11:00 mark, freshman Aleca Hughes scored her seventh goal of the year, with an assist by sophomore Bray Ketchum. Hughes' shot trickled inside the near post past Clemis to tie the game.
The Bulldogs would get their first lead of the game 3:35 into the second period with a goal by senior Helen Resor. Ketchum had the puck and beat Clemis, but the shot hit the post. Resor was right there for the rebound, sliding the puck into the open net to give Yale a 2-1 lead.
The Big Green had many scoring chances, including when senior co-captain Shannon Bowman '09 skated in on Yale netminder Genny Ladiges, wristing the puck past the goalie. The puck, however, hit the post and went wide.
"During the second intermission, coach Hudak often says, 'The hardest working team will win this game,'" Fischer said. "We knew we had to have one of our best periods of hockey in order to win."
The third period proved to hold greater luck for Dartmouth. With 8:15 remaining in the game, Newnam scored her seventh power-play goal of the season off of an assist from Cunningham. Newnam beat Ladiges off the inside of the right post to even the score at 2-2.
With less than a minute left to play in the game, Katie Horner '11 connected with Sarah Parsons '10, who hit Fischer streaking up the ice. When Fischer got the puck, she snapped a wrist shot that beat Ladiges on the blocker side, giving Dartmouth a 3-2 victory, and its second consecutive one-goal win.
"It was a total team effort in the third period," Clemis said. "Anytime you can come from behind and garner a win like that is when you know you have a mentally tough squad in front of you."
Dartmouth was 1-for-2 on hte power play, while Yale was scoreless in all three of its chances with the man-advantage. The Big Green also held a 27-24 shot advantage over the Bulldogs. With wins this weekend against Ivy foes Yale and Brown, Clemis moved into second place all-time for goaltending victories with 54.
"Carli reached an amazing personal achievement this weekend," Fischer said. "The work ethic and determination she brings each time she steps on the ice are two of the things that maker her so successful. She's an inspiration to play with."
Dartmouth will be back in action next weekend, traveling to play Colgate at 7:00 p.m. on Friday in Hamilton, N.Y. The Big Green will face off against Ivy rival Cornell at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y.
