Quinnipiac Spoils Dartmouth's Senior Night

Saturday, February 28

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

QUINNIPIAC

2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - Despite intense pressure by Dartmouth (14-12-3, 11-9-2), visiting Quinnipiac (16-15-3, 9-10-3) took a 4-1 victory away from the Big Green on senior night, Saturday in Thompson Arena. The loss, coupled with wins by St. Lawrence and Harvard, dropped Dartmouth to 6th in the ECAC standings as the Big Green will host #11 Rensselaer next weekend.

The Bobcats struck first with a goal 3:34 into the first period. Netminder Jody O'Neill (Nepean, Ont.) tried to clear the puck out but it got caught up in several pairs of skates behind the net. David Marshall was able to finally get a handle on it and wrap it around the post for the 1-0 score.

Dartmouth was outshot most of the period but poured it on late in the frame but was unable to get the equalizer.

Quinnipiac took a 2-0 lead early in the second. The Big Green began the stanza killing off a 5-on-3 and with it 4-on-4, Matt Sorterberg took a shot straight out from between the circles putting the puck over O'Neill's shoulder.

The Big Green finally got one back with 5:38 left to go. Kyle Schussler (Okotoks, Alta.) got a turnover at center ice and skated down alongside the boards. The freshman then passed back to Connor Shields (Edmonton, Alta.) who put it past Quinnipiac goalie Bud Fisher's shoulder for the score. In just his second collegiate game, Schussler picked up his first career assist.

Quinnipiac put the nail in the coffin off an unassisted strike by Bryan Leitch with under 3:00 to go before an empty net goal sealed the victory.

O'Neill finished with 27 saves while Fisher made 42. Dartmouth put it to Fisher late in the second and all through the third period as the Big Green finished with 43 shots on net.

Dartmouth will now host Rensselaer, who finished 11th, in a best-of-three series starting next Friday. Game times are still to be determined so check with Dartmouthsports.com or with the Dartmouth ticket office at (603) 646-2466.