Nikora’s First Collegiate Goal Lifts Men’s Hockey to Overtime Victory Against Colgate

Saturday, November 11

Hamilton, N.Y. / Class of 1965 Arena

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

2-1-3, 2-0-3

Colgate

3-5-2, 1-2-1

OT 1

Dartmouth

Colgate

Nikita Nikora men's hockey action versus New Hampshire

Photo by: Nick Romei

Nikora’s First Collegiate Goal Lifts Men’s Hockey to Overtime Victory Against Colgate

11/11/2023 10:45:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Nikita Nikora scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 remaining in overtime

By: Nick Romei

HAMILTON, N.Y. – First-year Nikita Nikora scored his first collegiate goal in overtime on Saturday evening as the Dartmouth men's hockey team claimed a 3-2 victory over Colgate at the Class of 1965 Arena.

With the win, Dartmouth improves to 2-1-3 overall and 2-0-3 in ECAC Hockey. Colgate drops to 3-5-2 overall and 1-2-1 in league play.

The Big Green saw themselves going into overtime for the fourth time in just five league games. This time, however, did not end in a shootout. After Cooper Black made the save on a shot from close range, Luke Haymes brought the puck down the ice into the Colgate area. As he skated around to create space, he found CJ Foley at the blue line. Foley found himself alongside Nikora with a short 2v1 chance. Foley played the soft pass to his left to Nikora, who smashed home the winner to the top left corner, sending the Big Green bench out on the ice to celebrate the win.

Nikita Nikora scores his first career goal in overtime to give the Big Green a 3-2 victory!!#GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/sgIumyFRUJ
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 12, 2023

Dartmouth held a 2-1 lead going into the third, but Colgate scored an equalizer through Jake Schneider just 45 seconds into the third period.

Cooper Flinton tallied his first two goals of the season, scoring in each of the first two periods. A Colgate turnover at center ice allowed Joey Musa to quickly play the puck to Flinton, who fired a shot past Raiders goaltender Carter Gylander to put the Big Green ahead 1-0 just 5:40 into the game.

Flinton buries the shot and the Big Green take an early 1-0 lead!@ESPNPlus | https://t.co/lFnSZcZSCm pic.twitter.com/mSlaEU7KXG
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 12, 2023

Colgate tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second with a short-handed goal from Ryan McGuire.

Flinton's second goal of the game came on the power play with just under a minute remaining in the middle frame. Haymes' initial shot was blocked, but the rebound fell perfectly to the right faceoff circle for Flinton to quickly shoot past Gylander and tuck into the bottom corner.

Cooper Flinton scores on the power play for his second goal of the night!@ESPNPlus | https://t.co/lFnSZcZSCm pic.twitter.com/qPy5KC8tAJ
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 12, 2023

Black had quite the night between the pipes for the Big Green. He made 36 saves, including saving a penalty shot early in the second period.

Cooper Black makes the save on the penalty shot!!@ESPNPlus | https://t.co/lFnSZcZSCm pic.twitter.com/sWy8NtDVUC
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 12, 2023

Foley and Haymes both registered two assists in the game, both of which came on the final two goals.

Eric Charpentier blocked a game-high four shots.

Dartmouth returns to action in two weeks for a non-conference game at UConn on Saturday, Nov. 25. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut and the game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and Stretch Internet.