In the early onset of the game, Dartmouth (22-11-0, 15-7-0 ECAC) had several scoring chances to give itself the lead, but the Big Green could not put the puck behind Cornell junior goalie Amanda Mazzotta. Dartmouth hit a shot hit off the Cornell post, while another shot missed the open net.
"We had a couple of chances really early in the game, but couldn't capitalize on them," head coach Mark Hudak said. "When you play a team like Cornell, you can't miss on these chances because you may never get them back."
Cornell (30-2-1, 20-1-1 ECAC) struck first, with junior Chelsea Karpenko who later received the tournament's most outstanding player award skating through the middle and beating Big Green goaltender Lindsay Holdcroft '14 on the right side. The Big Red had several more scoring opportunities in the opening frame including during a 5-on-3 power play but the Dartmouth defense was able to keep the score at 1-0 after the first period.
Seven minutes into the second period, Cornell was finally able to take advantage of a power-play chance. Receiving a pass from sophomore defenseman Laura Fortino, Karpenko beat a sliding Holdcroft for her second goal of the game.
The Big Green could not find its rhythm on the offensive end. Dartmouth failed to score on any of its six power play opportunities and managed only 14 shots in the entire game.
Cornell added an insurance goal in the final period when junior Catherine White shot from the top of the crease to make the score 3-0. Facing a three-goal deficit, Dartmouth did not muster much of a fight in the final frame, only shooting twice.
"We made a couple of mistakes early in the game and had to play catch up the rest of the way," Hudak said. "What it comes down to is we couldn't capitalize on our chances and they did."
The two teams last faced each other two weeks ago on Dartmouth's home ice. In that game, the Big Green built up a 4-0 lead and eventually won, 4-2. Dartmouth could not repeat its performance while playing in Ithaca, N.Y., however, in front of a Cornell crowd of 2,700 fans.
"In that last game, we played as well as any team could play," Hudak said. "Cornell is a very good team, and they played better than us in this game."
In advancing to the ECAC final, Dartmouth took out Clarkson University in a dramatic three-game series at home before ending Harvard University's season on the road last Thursday.
"I think we've had a great season," Hudak said. "Before the season, we were picked to finish eighth in the League. I didn't think anyone thought we would be anywhere close to the NCAAs."
Despite the loss, Dartmouth will now advance to the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Big Green will have no reprieve, playing second-seeded Cornell again on the road on March 12 at 2 p.m.
