After a hard-fought and evenly-matched first period against the Golden Knights, captain Jenna Hobeika '12 put the Big Green on the scoreboard in the second period. Hobeika artfully redirected a shot from Margaux Sharp '13 past Clarkson sophomore goalie Erica Howe, putting Dartmouth up 1-0.
The teams played evenly for most of the second period. Then, with only 0.6 seconds left on the clock, Sasha Nanji '13 scored to give the Big Green a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame. The goal was "momentum-building," Nanji said.
The Big Green was unable to hold its lead, however, marking the second consecutive game in which the team gave up a two-goal advantage. Clarkson got on the board just over a minute into the third period, shifting the atmosphere within the rink and putting the pressure on the Big Green.
Dartmouth held the Golden Knights to one goal until 1:02 left in regulation. Clarkson pulled Howe, giving the Golden Knights an extra skater in a last-ditch effort to tie the game. The gamble paid off, as the Golden Knights were able to tie the game and force overtime.
Dartmouth goalie Lindsay Holdcroft '14 provided a big showing for the Big Green in overtime, turning away every Clarkson attempt to preserve the tie. Holdcroft was solid between the pipes all night, making 31 saves. The Big Green managed only one shot in the extra period, failing to force any sustained pressure.
The Big Green was abysmal on the power play, going zero for six on the advantage. The team's penalty kill was superb, however, shutting the Golden Knights out twice.
Co-captain Reagan Fischer '12, who had one assist in the game, said the result was "disappointing," but a positive building block for the team.
"It gave us motivation and a boost for Saturday," she said.
The game against St. Lawrence evolved in a similar fashion, with an evenly-matched first period that ended in a scoreless tie. The second period solidly belonged to the Big Green, despite increased pressure and 12 shots from the Saints.
The Big Green gained a power-play advantage early in the period and put significant pressure on the Saints defense. During the advantage, Nanji teed up a shot from the point. St. Lawrence blocked the shot, but the puck bounced right to Fischer. She buried a power-play goal at the 16:12 mark for her first score of the season, shooting low and hard to fool St. Lawrence freshman goalie Carmen MacDonald.
"It was nice to finally get a goal," Fischer said. "[It] gave us the momentum needed for the win."
Fischer continued her stellar play into the second period, putting two more shots off the iron and narrowly missing a hat trick.
Again, however, the game came down to the third period. This time, the Dartmouth defense held, and with the game's outcome on the line, Dartmouth prevented St. Lawrence from creating many opportunities in the third period.
The Saints pulled MacDonald late in the game, but the Big Green thwarted all of their attempts with increased pressure and pure gamesmanship. The clock ran out and the Big Green left Canton, N.Y., with a 1-0 win.
Holdcroft was again spectacular in net, stopping all 24 of the Saints' shots en route to her fifth career shutout. The Big Green improved on the power play, going one for five, and was once again phenomenal on the penalty kill, holding St. Lawrence to zero for six. Dartmouth extinguished two five-on-three Saints advantages.
"We're taking this season game by game," Nanji said.
Dartmouth plays the University of New Hampshire on Sunday in Thompson Arena in the Big Green's home opener.
