Box Score
Hanover, N.H. – Union (11-11-5, 4-6-3) fell behind early and could not recover, falling to Dartmouth (9-10-1, 7-5-1) by a 5-1 count in ECACHL action at Thompson Arena. The Big Green scored on their first shot of the game on the way to handing the Dutchmen their third loss in four games. Sophomore Torrren Delforte (Shortsville, NY) scored the lone Union goal for his fifth of the season.
Union found itself in trouble early when Dartmouth scored on its first shot just 25 seconds into the game. J.T. Wyman redirected a shot to the left of goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA). Ben Lovejoy set things up with a pass over to Sean Offers at the top of the Dutchmen zone who fired a slap shot that caught the stick of Wyman in front.
Junior Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) tested Dartmouth goaltender Mike Devine toward the middle of the first period. His blast from the left face-off circle at 12:29 was trapped under Devine's pads. Thirty seconds later Bouchard picked up a loose puck to the left of Devine but his backhand chance was also turned away.
The Big Green went ahead 2-0 on the power play at 16:36. David Jones lured Mayotte to the top of the crease on the left side before passing the puck over to Grant Lewis who had a wide open on the weak side.
Union closed out the period on the power play and had three consecutive chances in front but all were saved by Devine.
The chances continued for the Dutchmen in the second period as they outshot the Big Green 11-7. Senior Jonathan Poirier (St. Jerome, QUE) had a chance in front 35 seconds in that was glove saved by Devine. Freshman Matt Cook (Belle Mead, NJ) was turned away on a backhand chance in the slot on a delayed penalty by Dartmouth.
The power play carried over into the third period for Union but had trouble getting set and did not register a shot on goal.
Union cut into the lead at 6:34 to make it a one-goal game. Freshman Mike Harr (Norwood, MA) came across the front of the Dartmouth goal and had an open net but Devine slid over and made a stick save but ended up out of position. Delforte followed the play and was there to knock the puck in.
Dartmouth responded with two more goals to make it 4-1. The first came on a shorthanded attempt, 30 seconds after Union's goal. David Jones received a pass from Lovejoy in the slot and roofed his shot over the left shoulder of Mayotte.
The Big Green added their second strike at 8:15 when freshman John Gibson scored his first collegiate goal. His shot from the top of the Union zone found its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Following that goal Mayotte was replaced in goal by sophomore Justin Mrazek (Regina, SASK) who made his first appearance since Dec. 11 against Ohio State.
Dartmouth made it a four-goal game at 16:18 with its third goal of the period. Nick Johnson registered the final tally coming across the front of the Union goal and sneaking the puck inside the right post past a sprawling Mrazek.
Union finished 0-for-9 on the power play and has converted three times in the last 38 attempts. Dartmouth outshot the Dutchmen 34-33.
Mayotte finished with 26 saves and Mrazek stopped three shots. Devine made 32 saves to pick up his eighth win of the season.
Union plays Harvard tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. to wrap up a four-game homestand.
