Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell came from behind twice on Friday night against Dartmouth to tie the game, but the third time wasn't the charm.

Despite a hearty effort playing with four skaters missing from the roster, the Big Red (4-1, 3-1 ECAC Hockey) dropped its first game of the season to Dartmouth (2-2-1, 2-0-1) by a 5-4 margin when the visitors scored a power play goal early in the third period.

With two first-line forwards and the top defensive pairing competing in the 4 Nations Cup in Sweden with the Canadian National Team, Cornell was forced to dress 13 skates, use just three natural defensemen and play forwards on the blue line to help defense.

The result was a five-goal effort from the Big Green and a home team that didn't have enough left in the tank to overcome the late deficit.

Things looked promising and the home crowd erupted when freshman forward Jillian Saulnier scored her 10th goal of the young season 4:32 into the third period to tie the game at 4-4. Hayleigh Cudmore passed the puck to Saulnier, who found Catherine White for a shot from the right side. Dartmouth goalie Lindsay Holdcroft made the save, but a juicy rebound bounced to Saulnier, who was there for the putback.

But just when the Big Red had all its confidence restored, Dartmouth struck on a power play goal. Dartmouth sophomore Ali Winkel completed her first career hat trick two minutes after Saulnier's goal to put the Big Green ahead for good.

Friday night's game marked the first time this year Cornell was held under 49 shots in a game and the first time its opponent took more than 16 shots. Goalkeeper Amanda Mazzotta stopped 21 shots,but Dartmouth converted on power plays to regain the advantage each time Cornell retied the game.

A wild first period saw four goals scored but only one for Cornell. The  Big Green controlled much of the early action and got on the board when a shot by Moira Scanlon rebounded off Big Red keeper Amanda Mazzotta and right into the wheelhouse of Kelly Foley. Foley wound up and fired past Mazzotta to put Cornell in a hole for the first time all year.

Dartmouth kept going strong with a goal seven minutes later that was keyed by terrific passing. Foley found linemate Reagan Fischer on the blue line, and Fischer wound up to shoot but passed across the net to Ali Winkel, who tapped the puck into the open net.

The Big Red stayed strong, though, nearly scoring twice on a power play before finally coming through. During a line change for both teams, Alyssa Gagliardi saw Jessica Campbell skating free. Campbell took the puck across the blue line, beat one defender and nearly fell over as she found the back of the net.

But all of Cornell's momentum was erased 45 seconds later when Dartmouth scored its third goal of the period thanks to a screen set up in front of Mazzotta. The goalie may have been interfered with, but the goal stood as Dartmouth took its 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Down two entering the second period, Cornell fought back and tied the game on goals by Chelsea Karpenko and Alyssa Gagliardi.

Gagliardi's score, a power play goal and her first of the year, came just 1:51 into the second period. Karpenko's goal came off a great steal by freshman Monika Leck, who skated down the ice and passed across the rink to Karpenko for the goal that briefly tied the game at 3-3.

Dartmouth didn't stay down, though, scoring with three seconds left on a Gagliardi checking penalty to go into the final period ahead 4-3.

Cornell won't have long to dwell on the loss, however, as league foe Harvard (3-0, 3-0) comes to Lynah Rink at 4 p.m. Saturday.