Box Score
 
HANOVER, N.H. – The men's hockey team scored three goals in the second period, then held off 17th-ranked Dartmouth for a 4-2 victory on Friday night at Thompson Arena. The victory broke a seven-game losing streak for Cornell (9-13-2, 5-10-2 ECAC Hockey). Sophomore forward Madison Dias scored his first collegiate goal.
 
The Big Red played a strong opening period, surrendering just three shots on goal. Yet Cornell also couldn't score at the other end, though it wasn't for a lack of opportunities. There were a few scrambles in front of the Dartmouth crease, with junior Rodger Craig sliding a backhand just wide of a vacated cage at the 12:25 mark.
 
A little more than two minutes later, senior John Esposito was stopped on a two-on-one shot that was set up by sophomore linemate John McCarron. Senior Nick D'Agostino's point shot through traffic was kicked away by Big Green goalie Cab Morris moments later.
 
The second period was a different story, as both teams had numerous chances that led to four goals – three by Cornell to take a commanding 3-1 lead into the third period.
 
Sophomore forward Joel Lowry got things rolling with his ninth goal of the season just 50 seconds into the stanza. Quick puck movement up the right wing created the play, with senior defenseman Braden Birch and McCarron chipping the puck off the wall to create a two-on-one. Lowry skated into the right circle and feathered a pass across to sophomore defenseman Joakim Ryan streaking down the slot. His shot was stopped by Morris, but Lowry was free to convert the rebound.
 
The visitors' lead doubled just two minutes later on Dias' first goal. A strong forecheck by freshman Teemu Tiitinen created a turnover in the right corner of the Dartmouth zone. Dias wheeled up the halfwall and cut to the middle, finding space in the high slot. With traffic cluttering the slot, Dias zipped a shot past the blocker of Morris to give the Big Red a 2-0 lead just 2:50 into the middle frame.
 
Cornell then scored its third goal of a period for the first time since Dec. 29 (vs. Maine) when senior center Greg Miller finished off a chance on the rush. Even though his name didn't appear on the scoresheet, sophomore forward Brian Ferlin created the play by forcing a turnover on the forecheck near the Dartmouth blue line. Ryan read the play and skated onto the puck in the neutral zone, then dished off to freshman forward Christian Hilbrich. He cut to the middle and held off a defender before feeding Miller in the high slot, and he wristed a shot past Morris.
 
Junior goalie Andy Iles was then called upon to make several big saves in the latter portion of the period. Brad Schierhorn cut into the right circle on a two-on-one and tried to beat Iles high, only to see his shot carom off the goalie's mask. At the 14:30 mark, Dustin Walsh made a strong move from the left corner that forced another quality save from Iles.
 
Dartmouth finally got on the board with 3:08 left in the period. Directly off a faceoff to Iles' left, Tyler Sikura got free to whistle a shot past Iles' glove, and the hosts suddenly had life.
 
That carried into the third period, when the Big Green struck just 90 seconds into the period to cut its deficit to one. Geoff Ferguson's pass up the left wall created a two-on-one. Sophomore Jacob MacDonald had it defended well, getting his stick to the pass from Eric Neiley, but Nick Bligh was able to bat it out of the air and into the net to make the score 3-2.
 
But Cornell was able to hold on and ice the game with 42 seconds left in the third on McCarron's sixth goal of the season. Lowry and MacDonald drew the assists. Iles made 21 saves for the victory.

The Big Red is back in action at 7 p.m. Saturday at Harvard.