HANOVER, N.H. – Maggie Kennedy (West Hartford, Conn.) scored the game winning goal early in the third period, giving the Big Green women's hockey team the, 3-1, win over Rensselaer, and advancing them onto the ECACHL semifinals.
An early physical game led to Dartmouth having a quick power play opportunity just three minutes in. Caroline Ethier (Matagami, Que.) took advantage of the extra-skater chance, as she deflected a shot from Kennedy, beating Rensselaer goalie Ashley Mayr to take the first lead.
Both teams had chances the remainder of the period, but couldn't produce any points on the scoreboard. The Big Green held the upper hand in the shot count, putting 16 chances on the Engineers cage, while Rensselaer could only throw five on the Dartmouth net.
The second period looked similar to the first in scoring chances, as the Big Green dominated in shots with, 15-5, advantage. But it was the Engineers who put the mark on the board. Laura Gersten jammed home a rebounded shot past Carli Clemis (Taber, Alta.) evening the score at one apiece with just 20 minutes to play.
The early pressure of the Big Green was no match for Rensselaer, as one defensive mistake cost them the lead. Kennedy stripped the puck from an Engineers defender in her own zone and broke free toward Mayr. At the top of the right hand circle, Kennedy rifled a slap shot between the legs of Mayr regaining the lead for her team.
Back-and-forth play in the neutral zone left the game scoreless for 15 minutes before Nicole Ruta (Pickering, Ont.) put the cap on the game, on a pass from Katie Weatherston (Thunder Bay, Ont.).
Dartmouth finished the game out shooting the Engineers, 45-16, and increasing their unbeaten streak to 11 games.
With the win in Game Two, the Big Green wrap up the first round of the Quarterfinals, and wait to hear who they will face in the ECACHL semifinal contest next weekend.
