HANOVER, N.H. - Dartmouth's Ian Pierce scored two goals including the game-winner Saturday night as the Big Green topped Vermont 4-3 in non-conference action from Thompson Arena. With the win, the Big Green improved to 4-4-6 overall and the Catamounts fell to 9-8-1.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Have to give credit when credit's due, Dartmouth played a great game," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "That was a very tough opponent. Our first two road periods were pretty good. Good resiliency to answer twice when they scored. We put ourselves in a spot to win a hockey game going into the third. In the end, the lesson for us is that the margin of error is paper thin at this level. A missed back check and a very lazy penalty cost us the game."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Big Green opened the scoring Saturday evening exactly six minutes into the first period. Sean Chisholm one-timed a shot from the top of the circle that UVM's Gabe Carriere never saw it in traffic to make it 1-0. Nikita Nikora and John Fusco assisted on Chisholm's second goal of the season.
- Vermont responded just 58 seconds later to tie things up. Timofei Spitserov intercepted a Dartmouth clearing attempt and quickly fed the puck up to Jens Richards. From a sharp angle Richards picked the top corner past Dartmouth's Cooper Black for his fifth goal of the season.
- In the second period Dartmouth reestablished its lead with Pierce's first goal of the year. Carriere made an initial save on a backhand attempt from Pierce but the rebound came back to him and a quick spinning slap shot found the back of the net at the 7:57 mark.
- Isak Walther put the game back on equal footing with his third goal of the season at the 10:29 mark of the second. Ralfs Bergmanis fed Andrei Buyalsky in the slot for a one-timer that Black was able to get in front of. But Walther fought through traffic to stash home the rebound.
- Dartmouth took the lead back 6:10 into the third period. Carriere made an initial save on Matt Fusco as he cut down the wing but Alex Krause crashed the net and pushed home the rebound. The play was reviewed as it appeared that Krause pushed Carriere and the puck into the net, but after an official review the goal stood.
- With 10:38 to play the Big Green took the first two-goal lead of the contest with a power play tally. Pierce one-timed a shot from the point that trickled past the goal line to make it 4-2.
- The Catamounts cut the Dartmouth lead in half with 4:54 to play in regulation. Jérémie Bucheler corralled a bouncing puck at the Vermont line and fed a quick pass up to Buyalsky. He beat a Dartmouth defender to the outside before crashing the crease and tucking the puck home for his second goal of the season.
- In the final moments with Carriere pulled for the extra attacker Dartmouth's Cooper Flinton had two crucial shot blocks to preserve the Big Green win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Graduate defenseman Jérémie Bucheler's third period assist extended his point streak to a career-best four games. Bucheler has two goals and four assists in the Catamounts last four games. He leads the team in scoring with 14 points this year.
- The Catamounts conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule with a record of 6-4-0.
- With tonight's 4-3 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $225 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
UP NEXT
With non-conference play wrapped up the Catamounts will dive back into Hockey East play with 16 games in 56 days to conclude the regular season. Things kickoff next weekend at Matthews Arena as Vermont travels to face Northeastern. Friday's contest is the Hockey East Game of the Week and it will air on NESN at 7 p.m. The game will also be simulcast on ESPN+. The teams will faceoff again Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. As always, Adam Lafleur will call the action on WVMT from the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
