No. 2 Dartmouth Women's Hockey Knocks off No. 8 UNH, Remains Perfect

Dec. 1, 2004

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HANOVER, N.H. - Junior Gillian Apps (Unionville, Ont.) and sophomore Caroline Ethier (Matagami, Que.) each scored twice as the No. 2 Dartmouth women's hockey team defeated cross-state rival No. 8 New Hampshire, 4-3, on Wednesday night at Thompson Arena.

With the win, Dartmouth improved to 10-0-0, remaining the lone undefeated and untied Division I team. New Hampshire falls to 9-3-1.

Sophomore Christine Capuano (Stoneham, Mass.) made 17 saves as she improved to 5-0-0 on the season. Melissa Bourdon had 34 stops for the Wildcats.

Despite dressing just 13 healthy skaters, Dartmouth came out firing on all cylinders early. Just one minute in, juniors Katie Weatherston (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Cheryl Muranko (Cambridge, Ont.) each were stopped on the doorstep by Bourdon's right pad, and Apps was denied on a breakaway at 8:01.

However, Ethier scored off assists from Muranko and sophomore Meredith Batcheller (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) at 10:24. It was the only goal of the first frame, one that Dartmouth dominated with a 14-3 shot advantage.

The teams then put on an offensive display in the second period, combining for six goals in a matter of 12:33. UNH's Stephanie Jones scored at 4:05 off assists from Lindsey Caleo and Nicole Hekle, the first of three times the trio hooked up in the period. Jones was the beneficiary each time. Jones scored again at 12:37 to give UNH a 2-1 lead, but Apps tallied just 26 seconds later off assists from senior Meagan Walton (Calgary, Alta.) and junior Tiffany Hagge (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Merely 51 seconds after Apps' initial goal, Walton and Hagge found Apps for another goal to restore the Big Green's one-goal lead. Ethier added the eventual game-winning goal at 15:08 off assists from Weatherston and freshman Amy Cobb (Edina, Minn.) before Jones trimmed the deficit to 4-3 at 16:38.

After combining for 27 shots in the second, the teams played at a slower tempo in the third, combining for 14 shots and only one penalty in a quick final frame. Capuano made her biggest save with less than 20 seconds remaining when she extended her right leg pad to stuff UNH's Taylor Palazeti on the doorstep.

The win sets up one of the most anticipated series of the year, as Dartmouth returns to action on Dec. 11-12 against defending national champ Minnesota at Thompson Arena. At 13-0-1, the Golden Gophers are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and are the only other undefeated team in Division I.

Schedules