Men's Hockey Downs No. 17/16 Cornell For Fourth Win

Saturday, November 8

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

4-0-0, 2-0-0

Cornell

2-2-0, 1-1-0

Cornell

Dartmouth

Men's Hockey Downs No. 17/16 Cornell For Fourth Win

11/9/2025 12:04:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Dan Richeal

HANOVER, N.H.—The Dartmouth men's hockey team defeated No. 17/16 Cornell by a score of 2-1 on Saturday night at Thompson Arena.

The first 10 minutes of the game saw a lot of back and forth play. While on the power play at the 10:07 mark of the frame, the Big Green broke the scoreless tie. Nikita Nikora had the puck in the right faceoff circle and fed the puck to the right post where Hank Cleaves was stationed. Cleaves scanned the ice and found Hayden Stavroff in the left faceoff circle. Cleaves hit him with the pass and Stavroff roofed his sixth goal of the year. Both Nikora and Cleaves picked up their fourth assists of the year.

Neither team scored for the rest of the first period as shots were 7-6 Cornell to start the game.

At the 1:55 mark of the second period, the Big Green doubled their lead as Matt Fusco scored his first goal of the season. On a loose puck in front of the net, Andrew Clarke slapped a pass back to Tim Busconi at the point. Busconi found Fusco to his right, Fusco took the pass and toe dragged towards the middle of the ice before ripping a wrister off the crossbar and in. Busconi notched his first collegiate point on the play while Clarke tallied his second assist.

Just past the midway mark of the period, Cornell scored off a transition play to make it 2-1.

The Big Green outshot the Big Red 11-6 in the second period while winning 10 draws in the stanza.

The third period was full of momentum swings as Dartmouth looked to take a two goal lead and Cornell looked to tie the game. After teams traded chances without any success, the Big Red pulled their goalie with 2:12 left in regulation. The Big Green held off the pressure despite being on the penalty kill for the last 35 seconds. Emmett Croteau turned away all 11 Cornell shots in the third period to secure the win.

Overall Croteau made 23 saves in the game including four from the low slot.

The Big Green have now defeated Cornell in three straight games dating back to Nov. 15, 2024. Dartmouth has notched at least a point in five straight regular season games against the Big Red.

The Dartmouth power play went 1-4 on Saturday night with five shots, Cornell was held off the scoresheet on the power play.

Cleaves won a team high 11 faceoffs while both Brock Cummings and Clarke won four draws.

The Big Green blocked a season high 17 shots against Cornell, Alex Krause led Dartmouth with four blocks while Colin Grable had three.

Dartmouth hits the road for a trip to the North Country as they take on St. Lawrence and Clarkson next weekend. The Big Green and Saints square off on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 PM before closing the road trip off against Clarkson at 4 PM on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Associate Head Coach Jason Tapp speaks following a 2-1 win over Cornell to make Dartmouth 2-0 in ECAC play#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/SyruvtZmCx
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 9, 2025

Matt Fusco after scoring the game winning goal against Cornell on Saturday night#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/JIPEP3p8sm
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 9, 2025

Emmett Croteau speaks following a 2-1 win over No. 17 Cornell on Saturday night#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/Dmubwp15uv
— Dartmouth Men's Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) November 9, 2025