Men's Hockey Defeats Connecticut, 5-1 in Unusual Midweek Game

Tuesday, January 11

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

UNIV. of CONNECTICUT

Men's Hockey Defeats Connecticut, 5-1 in Unusual Midweek Game

1/11/2011 7:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - With a shot out front that hit the twine so hard the goalie's water bottle flew up, junior Doug Jones (Marietta, Ga.) gave the Dartmouth men's hockey team the early lead on Tuesday night against Connecticut as the Big Green (9-5-2) never looked back in a 5-1 defeat of the Huskies. Dartmouth tallied three goals in the third period to put the game away.

Jones' shot was the only one that was able to find the back of the net in the opening period as the Big Green had 14 chances to UConn's two at the first break. The setup for the goal was a pretty text book power play opportunity as Evan Stephens (Bessemer, Mich.) shot the puck down to Matt Reber (Edina, Minn.) who was flying down the right boards. Reber shot quickly over to a patient Jones as he wristed the puck up and over the goalie.

Scott Fleming (Plainfield, Ont.) came out quickly in the second and had his shot ring off the post as Dartmouth continued to put pressure on Connecticut (7-10-3) goalie Garrett Bartus. For the second straight period the Big Green scored late in the frame as Alex Goodship (Blackfalds, Alta.), in his first game of the season, helped Dartmouth take a 2-0 lead into the locker room with his second career goal.

A bang-bang play by Reber and Fleming helped the home team go ahead by three goals midway through the final period before Jason Bourgea (South Burlington, Vt.) and Paul Lee (Garden City, N.Y.) teamed up for the score that gave the Big Green a 4-0 lead.

Bourgea, back in the lineup after suffering an injury early in the season, made a heads up play as Bartus came way out of the goal mouth to make a save but the puck slipped out from his glove as a waiting Bourgea was there to tip it in.

Things got interesting late in the game as the Huskies looked to have broken up Mello's shutout with a goal by Andrew Olson. After review however, the goal was disallowed as it was determined that UConn had a high sticking infraction. But just seconds later Jordan Sims had kharma on his side as his off-balance shot from the right corner sailed behind Mello for the score.

An empty netter for Adam Estoclet (Orono, Minn.) at 19:13 put the final tally on the board as the Big Green got its third non conference win of the season.

Mello finished with 17 saves while Bartus had 36. Dartmouth put 41 shots on the board, its fifth time this season with 40 or more shots, while Connecticut had 18.

The Big Green will be back in action on Saturday with its last non conference game of the season against in-state rival, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Game time is set for 7 p.m. as Dartmouth will be considered the home team for the contest.