Third period 2-0 run gives Big Green tie

It was a classic hockey game between two bitter rivals that had everything one could ask for -- an electric atmosphere from the standing-room only crowd at Thompson Arena, great goaltending, excitement on both ends of the ice and a thrilling overtime period. In the end, the Dartmouth men's hockey team on Saturday night was able to claw its way back from a 3-1 third period deficit and earn a 3-3 tie with the high-flying Vermont Catamounts, who were tied for first place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and ranked nationally in the top ten coming into the contest. Down 3-1 with under six minutes to go in the final stanza, the Big Green got goals from Alex Dumas '97 at 14:44 of the third and Tom Ruzzo '97 at 16:43 of the third to knot the contest at 3-3. Each team had a solid chance to score in the closing seconds of the overtime period, and the Big Green might have picked up the win had there been just a little more time left on the clock at the end of overtime. First, with about 20 seconds left in overtime, a Vermont shot deflected in front and dribbled toward the Dartmouth goal, coming to rest on the goal line before an alert Dax Burkhart '96 swept the puck out of harm's way. Then, with less than five seconds left, Dumas intercepted a Vermont clearing pass attempt and walked in to take a last-second shot, only to have his attempt blocked by a Vermont defenseman. Dumas, however, picked up the puck, walked in alone on Vermont goalie Tim Thomas, and deked the netminder, tucking the puck into the net.