The Big Green (18-10-2) outplayed the Saints (22-9-4) in both games but was unable to capitalize on its opportunities, consistently running into spectacular goaltending.
"It's the playoffs, so all the games are intense and physical," co-captain Kelly Foley '12 said. "You can't control the calls, so you can't expect anything. It's just part of the game in the playoffs."Co-captain Reagan Fischer '12 said the aggressive, physical playing style of the Saints proved a challenge for the Big Green.
"Their game isn't about finesse," Fischer said. "It's about being gritty and getting us off our game. They played it pretty well."
The Big Green came out in dominating fashion on Friday night, not allowing the Saints to get a shot on goal for just under 14 minutes of the first period. The team outshot the Saints in the first period, 9-2. Moira Scanlon '12 rang a slapshot off of the crossbar that narrowly missed bouncing into the net as it came down.
Jenna Hobeika '12 had three opportunities in the first few minutes but was unable to find the net. Hobeika and Karlee Odland '15 had a two-on-one opportunity that Hobeika sent just wide of the net. Seconds later, Hobeika gathered a rebound and ripped it at the goal, only to see it ring off the post. Ali Winkel '14 sent Hobeika the puck several minutes later, but her shot was stopped by the St. Lawrence goaltender.
After failing to score on three power play chances in the first stanza, the Big Green finally cashed in on its opportunties. Fischer gathered the puck in the corner and let it fly from a horrible angle. As the puck sailed toward the goal, Odland redirected it perfectly into the top corner of the net to give the Big Green a 1-0 lead.
With under a minute to go in the period, St. Lawrence rang a shot off the post. The Big Green defense gathered the rebound and sent the puck up to Sally Komarek '13. Komarek bolted up the ice and saw linemate Winkel streaking toward the back post. Komarek slid her the puck, which the goaltender deflected. As the puck flipped in the air, Winkel tried to bat it in. As a St. Lawrence defender dragged her down from behind, Winkel made one last lunging effort at the puck, sending it off the post. The period ended with the Big Green clinging to a 1-0 lead.
In the second stanza, the Big Green continued to outshoot the Saints, 9-5. However, the Saints were able to capitalize twice on their five shots. Both times, the shots were partially blocked and redirected into the air and into the Big Green net. Despite the two goals, goaltender Lindsay Holdcroft '14 was spectacular between the pipes, making huge saves en route to a 19-save night.
"Our second period wasn't the best we could have played," Fischer said. "We didn't play a full 60 minutes on Friday."
Offensively, the Big Green continued to pepper the St. Lawrence net. Camille Dumais '13, Jessica Gagner '13, Fischer, Foley, Hobeika, Komarek, and Winkel all had solid opportunities, putting shots off the post or just missing the net.
The Big Green tied the game with an historic goal by Dumais with just over two and a half minutes left in the period. Fischer deked a defender and sent the puck up to Dumais, who artfully poked around the last defender, setting up a breakaway. Dumais pumped, deked and slid the puck into the back of the net. The stands and players all rose to their feet, cheering. The goal marked Dumais' 100th point of her career. With 44 goals and 57 assists, she is the 34th player in Dartmouth women's hockey history to reach the 100-point mark and the second in the last week, as teammate Foley accomplished the feat last Friday against Yale University.
"Getting my hundredth point was definitely exciting," Dumais said. "But is was bittersweet because we didn't get the win. It's a good accomplishment, but it would have been so much better if we won."
In the third period, both teams had a number of close calls. St. Lawrence had two goals waved off, one for too many players on the ice and the other after a replay. Holdcroft was again fantastic, stopping 11 of the Saints' 12 shots. The Saints did take a one-goal lead in the third, but Holdcroft shut the door the rest of the way with numerous impressive saves, including a diving poke check that saved a breakaway.
Just 20 seconds after the Saints gained the lead, the Big Green tied the score on Dumais' second goal of the game. Foley slid the puck up the boards to Dumais, who gained the zone and shot from the hashmark, finding the back of the net just inside the far post.
The Big Green continued to have spectacular chances but could not convert. The best chance for the team came when Sasha Nanji '13 deked through four St. Lawrence defenders and slid the puck to Foley. Foley was tripped, but still managed to get a stick on the puck. Her attempt was stopped. With about 15 seconds left in the game, Fischer sent a shot off the goalie's pad and into the corner. Regulation ended in a tie.
The overtime period was short, as just 22 seconds into the extra frame, St. Lawrence junior Kelly Sabatine used a screen to send the puck past Holdcroft and the Saints into Saturday with a one-game advantage in the best-of-three series.
"Despite how bitter the overtime loss felt, we had the chance to forget it for Saturday," Fischer said. "That's the great thing about playoffs."
On Saturday, the Big Green fell to the Saints, 2-0, thanks to more solid St. Lawrence goaltending and some questionable calls from the referees. The Big Green was whistled for five penalties, while the Saints were called for three in a very physical game.
"It was a do-or-die atmosphere," Foley said.
The Saints came out firing, looking to gain the early advantage in what would prove to be the series-clinching game. They outshot Dartmouth 12-8 in the first frame, but Holdcroft was up to the challenge, especially on the four penalty kills the Big Green faced in the period.
The best opportunities for Dartmouth in the first period came from the top line of Dumais, Foley and Fischer. Foley gained a breakaway but was unable to finish due to a rolling puck. Foley and Fischer narrowly missed on a two-on-one opportunity minutes later. On the team's first power play of the afternoon, Scanlon, Nanji, Dumais and Fischer all had quality opportunities but could not finish. After the advantage ended, the Big Green continued to dictate play, with Winkel and Morgan Illikainen '15 adding their own chances.
The closest the team came to scoring in the game was in the first period, when Foley circled behind the net and sent the puck out to Dumais, who ripped a shot at the goal through a screen. It was stopped and sat on the goal line for several seconds. As Fischer, Foley and Dumais all lunged at the puck to knock it in, the referee blew the puck dead, though it was uncovered and still in sight. The period ended in a scoreless tie.
In the second stanza, the Saints continued to ramp up the pressure, but Holdcroft and the Big Green defense were up to the challenge. The team killed off yet another penalty and held the Saints scoreless on their 16 shots in the period. Early in the frame, Illikainen and Holdcroft held off a Saints three-on-one. Holdcroft continued to make stellar saves, including two while being slashed and hit by St. Lawrence players.
Offensively, the Big Green notched 10 shots in the frame but was unable to capitalize again. Komarek had two very close backhand opportunities, one off of a fantastic pass from Nanji, who deked through three Saints defenders. Illikainen notched her second chance of the game, sending a snapshot about an inch over the crossbar and open top corner. With 12 seconds left in the period, Komarek got hooked to the ice. As she was falling, she slid the puck to Foley, who was denied.
On the ensuing power play in the third, the Big Green had several more good chances. The Saints struck first, however, with just under three and a half minutes into the period on a rebound that slid just past Holdcroft's outstretched pad.
The Saints took a two-goal advantage on a controversial goal that was upheld via instant replay. Holdcroft made the initial save and Fischer dove at the loose puck to knock it away. She knocked the net off, but not before a Saints forward banged the puck home.
The Big Green battled furiously to get back into the game, but could not get past the Saints' goaltender and defense. Fischer had a shot at an open net blocked by a sliding defender. Foley, Fischer and Erica Dobos '12 also contributed good chances but to no avail. With Holdcroft pulled in the final minuite, Fischer sent a shot inches above the crossbar.
Holdcroft finished with 37 saves in the game.
"We had some unlucky bounces," Foley said. "They played really good defense, and we weren't taking as good shots as we could have."
Fischer agreed, noting that many shots were deflected by goalposts.
"We had some opportunities and hit some posts," Fischer added. "It's just one of those times when the bounces aren't going our way."
As the game ended and the Saints celebrated, the crowd came to its feet, applauding the Big Green for a fantastic effort not only this weekend but all season. This marked the final game for seniors Foley, Dobos and Scanlon.
"It's kind of an empty feeling now," Foley said. "We really don't know what to do with ourselves now that our careers are over."
Fischer said it will be a tough change to play next season without the current seniors.
"We're a very tight-knit class, so splitting up is tough," Fischer said. "I've played very few shifts without Foley, so it's going to be an adjustment next year. We're going to play next year for them as much as for ourselves."
