With the split, the Big Green (15-9-0, 11-7-0 ECAC) remains in third place in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with 22 points. Cornell University and Harvard University are in first and second place, respectively.
The Big Green had numerous scoring chances against Qunnipiac (18-10-1, 10-8-0 ECAC). Vigilanti frustrated Dartmouth skaters all game, however, and stopped shot after shot.
"[Vigilanti] stood on her head and had a great game," captain Katie Horner '11 said. "We just couldn't get anything past her."
Throughout the game, Dartmouth recorded 35 shots on goal, including 19 in the final period. The Bobcats goalie stayed aggressive and kept the Big Green skaters guessing as she recorded her seventh shutout of the season.
"We didn't play horribly in that game, which was the most frustrating part," Horner said. "Their goalie was all over the place and very unpredictable. She often came out of the crease and looked for the shots."
Neither team was able to score in the first period, but two costly Big Green penalties led to Bobcats power play goals, making the score 2-0 at the second intermission.
Quinnipiac freshman forward Kelly Babstock tallied her second goal of the game early in the third period to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead. Babstock leads the ECAC with 25 goals and 47 points.
The Bobcats added an empty-net goal late in the game to secure the 4-0 victory. The Dartmouth loss snapped a five-game winning streak, and marked the first time the team has been shut out since early December.
"I thought our team played a good game," head coach Mark Hudak said. "We ran into a hot goalie, which is not in our control."
Attempting to bounce back on Saturday against Princeton (12-12-1, 9-8-1 ECAC), the Big Green had another tough task ahead. The Tigers came into the matchup having won seven of their previous eight games, allowing a total of six goals during the stretch.
Dartmouth came out strong in the first period as Reagan Fischer '12 opened the scoring with a power play goal off a rebound nine minutes into the contest.
Jessica Gagner '13 recorded her first goal of the season off another rebound later in the period. The Big Green struck again before the intermission when Alyssa Boehm '11 fired past Princeton junior goaltender Rachel Weber while shorthanded.
The Big Green did not let up in the second period as Kelly Foley '12 and Amanda Trunzo '11 both tallied their own goals to make the score 5-0. After Trunzo's goal, Weber was pulled from the contest and backup goaltender sophomore Cassie Seguin finished out the game for Princeton.
"We didn't really change much from the Quinnipiac game to the Princeton game," Hudak said. "The amount of shots we got and the good scoring chances we had were about equal except in the Princeton game, the puck was going in."
Jenna Hobeika '12 added two goals in the third period to make the final score 7-0. In all, six Dartmouth players scored in the contest against Princeton.
Holdcroft bounced back from Friday's game and made 18 saves to record her eleventh victory of the season. She has allowed more than one goal in only one of her last seven appearances.
"We were smarter about staying out of the penalty box," Horner said. "That also helps you draw penalties from the other team."
Dartmouth converted three of its seven power play opportunities in the game, while Princeton was shut out in four power play chances.
The Big Green special teams have been a strong point. Dartmouth has scored in 24.3 percent of its power play opportunities, while only giving up a goal 9.7 percent of the time while shorthanded.
Dartmouth will travel to St. Lawrence University and Clarkson University next weekend its last regular season road trip for two important games with playoff implications.
