HANOVER, N.H. – The chances were there, but the Dartmouth men's hockey team just couldn't cash in on them Friday night at Thompson Arena against visiting Harvard.
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The Big Green (10-9-4, 7-7-2 ECAC) pulled to within one in the final period, but the No. 17 Crimson (11-7-4, 9-4-3 ECAC) added two in the late stages and an empty netter to seal a 6-2 victory.
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Just the second home loss of the season for the Green and White, Dartmouth had been 7-1-2 in Hanover prior to the game with the only other setback coming in early December to Colgate.
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"It's a closer game than the final score," Koenig Family Head Coach
Bob Gaudet '81 said. "We score in the third to make it a one-goal game and we're playing well. They score their fourth goal and now we have to change how we play in the final few minutes that led to them getting more chances.
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"We have to find a way to play good hockey down the stretch," Gaudet added. "That will come with hard work and creating some of our own luck and bounces."
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Drew O'Connor notched his 13th of the season 7:11 into the game, finishing off a great play behind the net from
Quin Foreman. That tied the score after Harvard's Jack Badini netted a breakaway tally just over three minutes into the game.
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A major penalty against Dartmouth led to an Austin Wong power-play goal before the intermission and a 2-1 lead for the visitors. The advantage was extended to two five minutes into the middle period on a Nick Abruzzese tally.
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Senior
Daniel Warpecha pulled the home team to within one nearly six minutes into the final frame with his fifth of the season. Assists on the goal went to
Matt Baker and
Collin Rutherford.
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Harvard didn't allow it to get any closer as Jack Drury, John Farinacci and Nathan Krusko all scored late markers with the Big Green aggressively pressing, seeking the third goal that never came.
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The Crimson have the nation's best power play, but were only able to score once in three chances, including the five-minute advantage.
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Dartmouth remains home next weekend, playing host to Brown on Friday night and Yale on Saturday. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. start times.