Dartmouth, Rensselaer Battle to Deadlock

Boxscore

HANOVER, N.H. -- The tenth-ranked Dartmouth women's hockey team netted its fourth power play goal in the last two games, but Rensselaer got one of its own in the final period to tie the Big Green, 1-1, in the first annual Pink at the Rink.

The pink jerseys didn't help the cause for the Big Green as Dartmouth outshot the Engineers, 34-16, but could not hold a third period lead. The Big Green skated to its fifth tie this season, which ties the program record set in 1998-99. Dartmouth set a new program record with its seventh overtime contest this season and is now 1-1-5 in the extra session.

The game started out slow with multiple icing calls, but Dartmouth got it first opportunity with 9:34 left in the openning period as junior Maggie Kennedy (West Hartford, Conn.) kicked the puck up to freshman Amanda Trunzo (Andover, Mass.) who skated in alone on Rensselaer goaltender Ashley Mayr, but Mayr sprawled out and made the save.

With 8:30 remaining in the period, the Big Green broke out with a 3-on-2 break and senior Nicole Ruta (Pickering, Ont.) got an open shot from the right circle, but it whistled wide.

Dartmouth (12-7-5, 9-5-3 ECAC Hockey) recieved the only power play in the opening period, but came up empty. The Big Green held a 7-6 advantage in shots with both goalies making all stops.

After the scoreless first period, Dartmouth got on the board with a power play goal from junior Shannon Bowman (Leamington, Ont.). Bowman hung out in front of the net and when sophomore Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass.) fired a shot from the point it deflected off Kennedy and Bowman hammered home the rebound for the 1-0 lead at the 8:37 mark.

Dartmouth dominated the second period, but could only find the net once. The Big Green peppered Mayr with 18 second period shots and she was up for the task as she kept the Engineers in the game with 17 stops in the period. Rensselaer and Dartmouth evened up the power play chances after two periods as the Engineers earned to man-up opportunities, but Dartmouth was able to capitalize on lone power play chance of the period.

In the third period with 14:46 left, Rensselaer (12-11-4, 5-8-4 ECAC Hockey) capitalized on a 4-on-3 advantage with a power play goal from Kendra Dunlop. Just like Bowman, Dunlop was at the side of the net when Melissa Boik took a shot from the point that was blocked and Dunlop collected the puck and chipped it over junior netminder Carli Clemis (Taber, Alta.) to even it up at 1-1.

The Big Green had a couple of opportunities in overtime as Dartmouth controlled the play, but could not get a shot on net. Rensselaer looked to be happy with the tie as the Engineers played back and got no shots on Clemis. Mayr earned the third star with 36 saves, including her 17 in the second period, while Clemis wasn't tested until the third period as she made 15 stops between the pipes for the Big Green.

Each jersey worn by the Big Green in the Pink at Rink will be auctioned off to benefit multiple the American Cancer Society. Also available for bid is the pink tie worn and signed by Dartmouth head coach Mark Hudak. If you would like to participate and place a bid on one of Dartmouth's pink jerseys, Click Here.

Dartmouth will back at Thompson Arena tomorrow afternoon as the Big Green will honor its three seniors at Senior Night against Union, beginning at 4 p.m.