DURHAM, N.H. – The Dartmouth women's hockey team ended the calendar year on a high note with a 5-0 victory over in-state rival UNH on Sunday afternoon at the Whittemore Center. Five different players lit the lamp for the Big Green while
Eleanor Rogers made 15 saves to record her first collegiate shutout.
The Big Green improve to 4-12-1 on the season while the Wildcats fall to 9-10-1.
"That was a really thorough win for us," said assistant coach
Max Gavin. "Everyone contributed, Eleanor [Rogers] had a huge shutout and it was a big team win, so I couldn't be prouder and really excited moving forward."
Vanessa Stamper opened the scoring midway through the opening period, tallying her first goal of the season.
Lauren Messier laid the puck off in the offensive zone for Stamper, who was able to take her time before firing a shot past UNH goaltender Sedona Blair to put the Big Green in front, 1-0.
"I just saw the puck laying there and said, "I'm going to shoot it," Stamper said about the game-winning goal. "I wouldn't have had the opportunity without the help of my teammates."
The lead was pushed to two less than 90 seconds later when
Mia Buonarosa tapped home her second goal in as many games.
Tiffany Hill went coast-to-coast with the puck before making the pass across the front of goal to Buonarosa.
There was just one goal in the second period, coming in the final few minutes during a period of 4v4 play when
Cally Dixon redirected a shot by
Kenzie Bachelor from the point.
Dartmouth kept its foot on the gas, scoring two more goals in the third period. A loose puck around the net and an opening towards goal allowed
Jenna Donohue to get off a shot that found the back of the net.
Shae Messner capped the scoring late in the period with an empty net goal from a shot within the Dartmouth defensive zone.
The Big Green outshot the Wildcats, 34-15, and held the edge in faceoffs, 29-20.
Recording her fourth win of the season, Rogers said, "I was happy and super excited for the team. I tried to remain calm throughout the game and not let the score change the way I was playing."
Dartmouth closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule on Wednesday against Franklin Pierce. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Thompson Arena and the game will be available to stream nationally on ESPN+ and internationally on Stretch Internet. Tickets for the contest are available for purchase through the Dartmouth Athletics ticket office.
Notes: This was the first road win of the season for the Big Green.