SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College women's hockey team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to tie Dartmouth 2-2 midway through the second period at Messa Rink Friday evening, but two more unanswered goals by the Big Green in the back half of the contest would lead them to a 4-2 victory.
 
After a first period that saw Dartmouth go into the intermission with a two-goal lead on the backs of Jenna Donohue's and Laura Fuoco's seventh goals of the season, the Garnet Chargers were quick to respond in the second.
 
The middle frame began with the two teams playing 4-on-4 for the first 1:48 thanks to coincidental minors in the final seconds of the first, and Union came out of the locker room with some jump, looking to get themselves back in the game. The Garnet Chargers entered the offensive zone in the final seconds of the 4-on-4, and after senior Celeste Beaudoin put a shot on net with both players exiting the box, sophomore Stephanie Bourque collected the rebound and deposited it into the open net to bring Union back within one.
 
Union kept their foot on their pedal still chasing the game, and with a 6-1 shot advantage in the second period while looking to tie the game, cashed in again. Sophomore Riley Walsh circled to the top of the circle to the right of Dartmouth goaltender Hann Humphreys and fired a shot that went off Beaudoin's skate at the top of the crease, bounced high into the air over the sprawling Humphreys towards the goal line, and pushed over the line by sophomore Amanda Quan to tie the game at two.
 
The first eight minutes of the second period would be just about the only period of play that Union controlled on the evening, as Dartmouth took back possession of the game after the Garnet Chargers brought it back even. The Big Green would go on a 5-1 shooting run right after Quan's game-tying goal before Meredith Jensen took a perfect pass from Shae Messner on the doorstep to give Dartmouth back the lead.
 
After Dartmouth squandered their first four power play opportunities earlier in the game, Cally Dixon's fifth power play goal of the year sealed the game on the Big Green's fifth chance 7:17 into the third.
 
Union would get three chances at their own power play in the contest, including one with the game tied at two in the second and one with 8:12 left in the third, but couldn't cash in, and still search for their first power play goal since their December 9th victory, when they were last on home ice, against Rensselaer.
 
Walsh picked up two assists on Union's two goals in the contest, extending her team lead in the helper (14) and points (23) categories. Junior Sophie Matsoukas made 28 saves for Union in the game, while Humphreys stopped 26 shots in their first victory since December 10th, 2021.
 
While the result was not what Union wanted on the ice, off the ice the program's annual Pink The Rink game was a smashing success. By the time the game went final, the program had already crossed their $1,000 goal in raising funds for the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer. Fans still wishing to donate can do so by finding the link to the program's fundraising page in their X and Instagram bios.
 
The program dedicated the game to the mother of junior Maya Jones, Carolyn, who is currently in her own battle against breast cancer.
 
With Harvard playing in the Women's Beanpot Tournament consolation game on Tuesday, Union will not host the Crimson until January 31st, and instead will have Saturday off. The Garnet Chargers return to action next Saturday, when they take on Rensselaer in the Capital District Mayors Cup. Puck drop at MVP Arena is set for 3:00 PM.