With its third conference win of the season, the Big Green (5-14, 3-9 ECAC Hockey) has finally vacated its spot at the bottom of the ECAC, leaving Clarkson University in sole possession of last place.
Still at the top of the ECAC standings, Union (13-6-5, 7-2-3 ECAC Hockey) was undefeated in league action going into the weekend but lost 4-1 to Harvard University on Friday and fell to Dartmouth, 3-1, the following day.
"We were all really excited," assistant captain Scott Fleming '11 said. "It is a good momentum win for us. We talked before the game about how we are halfway done with the regular season and wanted to start the second half really strong."
Fleming potted the game-winning goal for the Big Green 7:43 into the second period against the Dutchmen, notching the point after receiving a pass in front of the net from Adam Estoclet '11.
Just 27 seconds into the third period, Estoclet notched a power-play goal to bring the final score to 3-1 in Dartmouth's favor.
Union could not get onto the scoreboard until midway through the final frame, when junior Adam Presizniuk tallied the Dutchmen's only goal of the night, the 31st of his career.
Almost eight minutes into the first period, defenseman Joe Stejskal '11 drilled the puck past Dutchman netminder Corey Milan to establish an early 1-0 lead for the Big Green. It was Stejskal's first goal of the season after notching seven goals last year.
"I was pretty excited," Stejskal said. "Tonight the puck found the back of the net, and we were getting some bounces. We killed penalties all weekend really well, and tonight I think our power play took a good step."
The Big Green fought off six Union penalties but was outshot by the Dutchmen, 40-23.
"We played a really good game. It was a full game 60 minutes. We have a lot of confidence," Boldt said. "It was just everything coming together for us finally."
Earning his first collegiate victory against the Dutchmen, goalie James Mello '12 also started the previous night against the Engineers (13-11-2, 6-5-1 ECAC Hockey), as the usual starting netminder, Jody O'Neill '12, sat on the bench.
"That is a personnel change that we made just because we wanted to try out our other options," captain Peter Boldt '10 said. "[Mello] has been working really hard this year and he took full advantage. [O'Neill] was unbelievable for us last year and we are just giving him a break."
In his five appearances, Mello had a save percentage of .942 while O'Neill has posted a save percentage of .890 in 16 games.
RPI countered Dartmouth's early lead with two goals in the final period to take the game.
"Their first goal was off of a face-off play, really bang-bang," Boldt said. "We outplayed them. The second goal [Mello] had a really good look at it, but it bounced into the net. It seems like that is how a lot of this season has been going for us, just not getting the breaks at crucial points in the game."
Connor Goggin '12 notched Dartmouth's only goal during a penalty kill, 12:52 into the first period, off of passes from Fleming and Evan Stephens '11.
It was the Big Green's second shorthanded goal of the season, as Stephens made the first in the team's 9-4 victory over Brown University.
Despite the losing score, the Big Green outshot the Engineers, 28-21. Dartmouth failed to capitalize on its three power-play opportunities but killed off four penalties.
The Big Green returns to its home ice this weekend for more ECAC competition. Dartmouth faces off against Quinnipiac University at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Ivy rival Princeton University at 4 p.m. Saturday.
"We are going to be focusing on the game Friday night just doing what we did tonight, keeping it rolling, working it hard and taking it shift by shift," Stejskal said. "When you do all the little things just a little bit better, I think it will make a big difference."
The Big Green lost to the Tigers (6-10-2, 3-8-1 ECAC Hockey), 2-1, in a heated overtime battle at the beginning of the season, and Princeton is now just one point above Dartmouth in the ECAC standings. Last season, however, the Big Green swept Princeton for the first time since 2003. In Dartmouth's home game versus the Tigers on Feb. 27, Thompson Arena was bombarded with tennis balls when Fleming scored Dartmouth's first goal in the 2-0 shutout victory.
"Princeton is always a really fun game to play with all the fans coming out and the tradition with the tennis balls," Fleming said. "We always love playing them and love the support."
