Dartmouth (9-5-2, 6-3-1 ECAC) incorporated a disciplined and simple offensive attack that has served the team well, according to head coach Bob Gaudet '81.
"We are playing very good hockey right now and I am glad we came away with the W,'" he said.
The Big Green struggled early to find an answer to UConn sophomore goalie Garrett Bartus, who held off Dartmouth's offense until late in the first period. Doug Jones '12 finally broke the floodgates in the eighteenth minute, capitalizing on a UConn penalty to give his team a one-goal advantage heading into the first intermission.
The Big Green came out hard again in the second period, but were unable to crack through Bartus' shield until the latter half of the second period.
Alex Goodship '13 in his first game back with the Big Green after an injury broke through, however, and slipped a shot past the Huskies goaltender in traffic to increase the Big Green's lead to 2-0.
With a two goal advantage leading into the game's final period, Dartmouth remained dominant throughout the rest of the showdown. The team notched 33 shots, while the Huskies accumulated a meager 10.
The Dartmouth offense picked up late in the third period, scoring three goals in the final five minutes of the contest.
Matt Reber '11 capitalized on a loose puck in front of the net to give the Big Green a 3-0 lead and Jason Bourgea '13 also fresh after returning from an injury-related absence jumped on a rebound to further increase Dartmouth's advantage.
Despite an excellent defensive effort and the stellar performance of James Mello '12 in net, the Big Green gave up a goal late in the third period when UConn freshman Jordan Sims shot past Mello and cut Dartmouth's lead to three.
The Big Green's offense was not done yet, however, as assistant captain Adam Estoclet '11 scored from center ice on an empty net to cap Dartmouth's 5-1 victory.
The Big Green will next head on the road to Manchester, N.H. this weekend to take on the rival University of New Hampshire in the Verizon Wireless Arena at 7 p.m. UNH is currently ranked the fourth best team in the nation, according to United States College Hockey Online.
Although the game will be played on neutral ice, Dartmouth will be designated as the home team for the contest.
"Technically, we are the home team, but we know that in Manchester a lot of them are going to be pulling for UNH," Gaudet said. "We are going to keep our game nice and simple."
Many players also said they were excited for the highly anticipated match-up.
"UNH is a really good team," Bourgea said. "We have to be firing on all cylinders."
Dartmouth currently sits in third place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and second place in the Ivy League.
