Dartmouth 2 - Princeton 5

Princeton, N.J. - The final score read Princeton 5, Dartmouth 2, yesterday afternoon at Baker Rink, but it could have read Princeton 2, Dartmouth 1. The Tigers owned the first two periods and the Big Green owned the last, but in the end, a would-be third period comeback fell short as Princeton netted an empty net goal en route to its third straight win.

Dartmouth had been averaging less than two-and-a-half goals-allowed per game, but the Tigers managed to break through the Big Green blueline and rattle goaltender Nick Boucher with a barrage of point-blank shots. Shane Campbell's goal, the second of a three-goal outburst for Princeton midway through the second period, proved to be the game-winner.

With the loss, the Big Green slips to 8-12-4 (7-7-3 ECAC) overall, but remains in the hunt for home-ice in the first round of the ECAC Tournament. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the team is tied with Princeton (9-12-3, 7-7-3) for fourth in the league standings.

"In the third period, I just asked the guys to compete," said head coach Bob Gaudet. "At that point, it goes way beyond X's and O's. And they responded. After a long weekend, I think they showed that they had a little more left in the tank than they thought.

"But it's disappointing to lose. I like our team, and I think we worked hard in the third period."

Boucher, a rookie, has been solid for the Big Green all season. He brought a 2.31 goals-against average into the weekend and allowed just one goal in the team's win over Yale Friday night, but couldn't contain the aggressive Tigers.

Senior Eric Almon, the team's regular goaltender last season, entered after Princeton's fourth goal and stopped all 12 shots he faced.

"I thought Eric played a good, solid stretch for us," said Gaudet. "He made some great saves. Boucher has played great for us, but it was good to change the momentum and get Eric some minutes. I know we'll need him down the stretch."

The Tigers opened the scoring midway through the first period when Campbell potted a 4-on-4 goal, and then exploded six minutes into the middle frame. Sophomore Josh Roberts began the three-goal spurt with his fifth goal of the season, and then Campbell's second of the game was the eventual game-winner. Senior Benoit Morin capped the outburst when he scored just 28 seconds after Campbell.

In the third period, the Big Green awoke. Junior forward Peter Mahler broke up the shutout when he netted a back-handed shot early in the period. Mahler's classmate, defensman Dory Tisdale, cut the deficit to two with his first goal of the season.

Dartmouth outshot the Tigers, 17-8, in the third period, but could only solve netminder Dave Stathos twice. Sophomore Jamie Herrington was whistled for a questionable boarding penalty late in the game, and the short-handed Big Green could mount little offense in the game's final two minutes.

Princeton's Kirk Lamb coverted an empty-netter with three seconds remaining to close the scoring.

"In the third period, I thought we worked really hard to get back into the game," Gaudet said. "That was an unfortunate call with under two minutes to go in the game. Princeton was working hard too, but I thought our guys were really getting after it. I thought we really had a chance.

"But that's the way it goes. We'll come back and work hard this week."

The Big Green will return home to face Colgate next Friday evening.

Big Green notes: The Big Green entered this contest having scored a power play goal in four of its last five games, but finished the day 0-for-7 with the man-advantage . . . . Sophomore Dan Casella played the game with a broken left middle finger. He suffered the injury in the third period of Dartmouth's 2-1 win over Yale Friday night, but was cleared to play by team doctors . . . . Sophomore Gary Hunter separated his right shoulder in the second period of the game, and didn't return to action. He left Baker Rink wearing a sling . . . . Almon hadn't played since before the New Year. He was in net for Dartmouth's 6-1 loss to Boston College on Dec. 29 . . . . The record against next week's opponents: Dartmouth lost to Colgate, 5-2, and beat Cornell, 3-2, in upstate N.Y. in late January.