Tough Second Period Too Much to Overcome in 6-3 Loss to Maine

Saturday, December 9

Portland, Maine / Cross Insurance Arena

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-12-1

Maine

9-8-0

Dartmouth

Maine

Photo by: Justin Lafleur

Tough Second Period Too Much to Overcome in 6-3 Loss to Maine

12/9/2023 6:55:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Meredith Jensen and Mia Buonarosa scored their first-career goals in the third period

By: Justin Lafleur

PORTLAND, Maine — The Dartmouth women's hockey team played a strong first and third period, but a tough second period proved too much to overcome in a 6-3 loss against Maine on Saturday afternoon, in a game played at Portland's Cross Insurance Arena. Trailing 4-0 heading to the third period, the Big Green held a 3-2 edge over the final 20 minutes, with both Black Bears' goals coming via an empty net.

With their win, the Black Bears improve to 9-8-0 while Dartmouth falls to 3-12-1.

"I thought we came out with a lot of jump and energy," said Big Green head coach Liz Keady Norton. "That lull in the second really got us. We've always told our team that we have to put 60 minutes together, be really detailed and control what we can. In the second period, that got away from us. I like our effort, I like our fight until the end, but it was too little, too late."

A highlight from the afternoon was first-career goals from Meredith Jensen and Mia Buonarosa. Laura Fuoco scored her fifth goal of the season earlier in the third period to get Dartmouth on the board.

An evenly-played first period saw Maine hold a slim 14-12 edge in shots, with neither team finding the back of the net.

Early in the second, the Black Bears' Haley Ryan scored a shorthanded goal to break the deadlock. It would be the first of three consecutive goals, as she scored at 13:07 and 13:53 for the natural hat trick.

Maine's Alyssa Wrubble added a fourth goal with just 16 seconds left in the second, to take a 4-0 lead into the third.

The Big Green wouldn't go away quietly. Just over midway through the period, Dartmouth went on the power play and pulled goaltender Eleanor Rogers for the extra attacker, which would pay off. Izee Powell shot the puck towards net, where Jenna Donohue made a redirection. It was saved by Maine goalie Jorden Mattison, but Fuoco was there to sneak it past Mattison, pulling Dartmouth within 4-1 at 12:40.

Take a look at the ice-level view of Laura Fuoco getting the Big Green on the board in the third period today.#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/s07wGKKHMi
— Dartmouth Women's Hockey (@Dartmouth_WIH) December 9, 2023

Just 54 seconds later, however, the Black Bears put home an empty-net goal to retake a four-goal, 5-1 lead. The Big Green had one last late surge, as Caroline Appleyard collected a Maine turnover near the blue line and fed Jensen in the slot, who one-timed it past Mattison to pull Dartmouth within 5-2 at the 17:04 mark.

Meredith Jensen scored her first-collegiate goal this afternoon via this beautiful one-timer!#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/gluavCqFqT
— Dartmouth Women's Hockey (@Dartmouth_WIH) December 9, 2023

Again, the Black Bears responded with an empty-net goal, but again, the Big Green answered. This time, it was Buonarosa, who put home a rebound of an Appleyard shot with 15 seconds remaining, pulling Dartmouth within 6-3 at the final horn.

Mia Buonarosa rounded out the Big Green's scoring with her first-career goal!#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/HZlXpFxHVn
— Dartmouth Women's Hockey (@Dartmouth_WIH) December 9, 2023

Final shots were 38-34 in favor of Maine. The second period was actually the only period the Big Green held the shots advantage (13-11), despite being outscored 4-0 in that frame. Dartmouth finished 1-for-2 on the power play while the Black Bears were 0-for-3.

After an extended time without a game surrounding the holidays, the Big Green return to action on Sunday, Dec. 31 when they travel to New Hampshire to face the Wildcats. Opening faceoff at the Whittemore Center is set for 2 p.m.

Hear from head coach Liz Keady Norton following today's defeat against Maine.#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/XGDuS8hMHI
— Dartmouth Women's Hockey (@Dartmouth_WIH) December 9, 2023