Big Green secure ECAC Hockey road victory against Union, 4-2

Friday, January 19

Schenectady, N.Y. / Messa Rink at Achilles Center

6:00 PM

Dartmouth College

5-14-2, 2-10-2

Union

8-16-2, 3-10-2

Dartmouth

Union (NY)

Photo by: Rebecca Osowski

Big Green secure ECAC Hockey road victory against Union, 4-2

1/19/2024 10:16:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score Highlights Box Score

By: Rebecca Osowski

Schenectady, N.Y. – The Big Green got out to a quick start Friday evening in ECAC Hockey action against Union. Dartmouth scored two goals in the first period en route to a 4-2 victory over the Garnet Chargers at Messa Rink at the Achilles Center in New York.

With the win, the Big Green move to 5-14-2 on the season and 2-10-2 in ECAC Hockey. The Union Garnet Chargers fall to 8-16-2 overall and 3-10-2 in the conference.

The Big Green came with pressure from the first puck drop, sustaining zone time and outshooting their opponent. The momentum seemed to be in their favor as a shot from Maura Fiorenza found the back of the net, but following video review, was called off for goaltender interference.

Dartmouth would not stop pressuring however and shortly after, Jenna Donohue found herself open at the bottom of the circle and ripped a shot top corner to put the Big Green up 1-0.

Before the period would end, Laura Fuoco doubled the Big Green's lead. Sydney Vandenberg played the puck in front for Fuoco who was able to sneak it past the Garnet Chargers' goaltender, giving the Big Green a 2-0 lead headed into the second period.

Union responded quickly in the second period, cutting Dartmouth's lead in half only 1:51 into the middle frame. The Garnet Chargers tied the game five and a half minutes later, seemingly erasing all momentum in Dartmouth's favor.

With under five minutes to go in the period though, Shea Messner swung the momentum back, carrying the puck up the wall and sending a pass through the crease for Meredith Jensen to tap in, putting the Big Green back up by one.

The Big Green held their 3-2 lead through nearly half of the third period until a slashing penalty against Union put Dartmouth on the power-play. Only 19 seconds passed of the five-on-four advantage before Cally Dixon was able to score an insurance goal for the Big Green, reestablishing the two-goal lead.

"I sort of just hung out in the back and Izee [Powell] made a great move and got me wide open and all I had to do was finish the puck," Dixon said about her goal. "It's nice when my teammates get me open."

Head Coach Liz Keady Norton returned to the bench for her first game following the IIHF World Juniors and said the team's effort is what made the difference.

"I thought even when it got close there, we stayed the course and battled back. I really liked our penalty kill tonight too, lots of blocked shots and just the second effort plays that made a really big difference," Keady Norton said.

As the Big Green finish the weekend with another ECAC Hockey matchup Saturday, both Keady Norton and Jensen emphasized the importance of being ready from the jump and the importance of the game.

"I hope we come just as focused and ready to go right from the first puck drop and that we stay together…," Keady Norton said. "Every win is really important. I think the ECAC is a really challenging league and that's what makes it exciting, but every win is really important for us."

Jensen echoed and said, "Its huge to celebrate the win tonight, soak it in, and enjoy it. Tomorrow, we have to reset and do it all again. So, huge momentum going into tomorrow, I think it will be fun."

The Big Green are back in ECAC Hockey action tomorrow on the road against RPI. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game can be streamed nationally on ESPN+, internationally on Stretch Internet, and can be followed via live stats that are available on DartmouthSports.com.