Dartmouth senior forward Camille Dumais added an assist to go along with her third career hat trick, fellow senior forward Reagan Fischer netted four points, and the Big Green of Dartmouth College outshot the University of Maine Black Bears, 61-15, on their way to a 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon.
Dartmouth’s first win in its last five contests improves the Big Green’s record to 5-4-2 on the season. The nonconference loss extends the Black Bears’ winless streak to six games, dropping their record to 2-11-1.
Dartmouth pressured Maine all over the ice throughout, making it difficult for the Black Bears to break the puck out of their defensive zone. Coach Mark Hudak said that was a major key to Dartmouth’s game plan coming in.
“We knew that Maine has success when they’re allowed to collect [the puck] and turn up ice,” he said. “That’s something we didn’t want to allow them to do today.”
Maine coach Maria Lewis was hoping for a better effort following last weekend’s debacle against Boston College, when the Black Bears were outscored, 17-2, in the two-game series. Lewis said something will have to change if Maine wants to add to their win column moving forward.
“I’m just really disappointed in the way we came out coming off of last weekend against BC,” Lewis said. “[Dartmouth] did exactly what I thought they would do. They played exactly how I thought they were going to play.”
Fischer scored her first goal of the night to break the 0-0 tie seven minutes into the first period on a wraparound attempt that squeaked through Maine senior goaltender Brittany Ott’s pads. She was assisted by sophomore forward Karlee Odland.
Ott was busy once again, stopping 55 of the 61 shots she faced against the ECAC opponent.
The Big Green extended their lead to two with 6.2 seconds left in the period on a goalmouth scramble after Ott was unable to corral a rebound. Dumais eventually slammed the puck through for her first goal of the night. Fischer was credited with the assist on the score.
It was tough sledding for Maine in the second period as well.
Laura Stacey’s third goal of the year came with just over two minutes gone in the middle stanza off a ricochet in front that found its way passed Ott. The goal, which was assisted by fellow freshman forward Lindsey Allen, marks Stacey’s 11th point of the season as she tries to keep pace with Fischer for the team lead.
Another Black Bears turnover lead to another Dartmouth goal two minutes later. Fischer one-timed a centering pass from Dumais for her second goal of the contest that made it 4-0. Senior forward Jenna Hobeika was also credited with an assist on the score.
The Black Bears saw a little more of the puck in the final frame.
Sophomore forward Tori Pasquariello had a clear path in on Dartmouth junior goaltender Lindsay Holdcroft when she exited the penalty box with 15 minutes to play, but couldn’t quite maintain control of the puck as she skated in.
Dartmouth’s lead stretched to five on a breakaway goal with just over seven minutes remaining. Dumais wristed a shot that beat Ott top shelf for her second goal of the contest. Senior defender Margaux Sharp and freshman defender Zoe Brennan assisted on the tally.
Maine’s lone goal of the day came with just two minutes to go in regulation. Senior forward Brittany Dougherty notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season on an unassisted effort, upping her point total to 13.
Holdcroft finished with 14 saves on 15 shots.
Dumais completed her hat trick on a power play with 32.9 seconds remaining to cap the scoring. Fischer earned her second assist of the game — and team-leading 14th point of the season — on the goal that made it 6-1.
Maine’s penalty kill has struggled for most of the year, but performed well Saturday, allowing just one goal in six Big Green power play chances.
The Black Bears mustered one shot while going 0-3 with the extra skater.
The win improves Dartmouth’s all-time record against Maine to 10-0. The Black Bears will try to end that streak when the two teams faceoff again in game two on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 3 p.m.
