There aren’t many visiting goalies who can play two games on the road against the nation’s top-ranked team and give up only two goals during a sweep. Saturday, St. Lawrence’s Rachel Barrie joined those elite ranks.
The senior from Arnprioir, Ont., stopped a furious Dartmouth attack, recording 30 saves as the No. 5 Saints topped No. 1 Dartmouth, 3-2 to complete an improbable road sweep.
“It’s an amazing feeling for our team to have done so well this weekend,” said Barrie. “I think everyone was looking forward to the weekend, and we knew what a good team Dartmouth was, so there was pressure in that respect, but being the underdogs took a bit of the pressure off.”
“For the first time in a while, we didn’t have that pressure where we have to win or we’re supposed to win.” said St. Lawrence coach Paul Flanagan. “I thought our kids lightened up a bit in terms of the anxiety over wins and losses, and even though it looked like there was great effort there, I just don’t think they were gripping the stick as tight.”
Dartmouth coach Mark Hudak was unavailable for comment following the contest.
Dartmouth came out firing, eager to avenge Friday night’s 3-0 loss, but Barrie picked up where she had left off, denying Dartmouth throughout the first ten minutes of play. Finally, with under eight minutes to go in the opening frame, Tiffany Hagge ended Barrie’s shutout streak, roofing a puck over the senior for the early lead.
St. Lawrence equalized with two minutes to go in the period, as freshman Elisabeth Pahler lifted a shot that rolled over the shoulder of Dartmouth keeper Stephanie Cochran and over the goal line for a late unassisted tally.
An early power play in the second period gave the Saints the lead, as Rebecca Russell banged home a rebound 29 seconds in to put the visitors up 2-1. The remaining 19:31 passed without a goal, and the Saints headed to the locker room at the second intermission with thoughts of a sweep dancing through their heads.
History was made a mere 13 seconds into the third period, as senior defenseman Louise Pietrangelo broke Dartmouth’s career penalty minutes record. Pietrangelo has 198 total minutes in her four years, eclipsing the old mark of 196 set by Kristin Romberg.
However, the Saints failed to capitalize on Pietrangelo’s historic trip to the sin bin, as Dartmouth tested Barrie with several shorthanded attempts. The Saints did capitalize, however, on another power play, as a Gina Kingsbury slapshot beat Cochran with just under 12 minutes to go.
Dartmouth would not go away quietly, though. Alana BreMiller scored during a 4-on-4 to bring Dartmouth back within one with four minutes to play. Less than 30 seconds later, a Dartmouth power play gave the Thompson Arena crowd hope, but it was not to be. Dartmouth could not pull Cochran until the last 30 seconds, and St. Lawrence hung on for the win and sweep.
Both teams return to ECAC action next weekend. St. Lawrence travels to Harvard for a pair of games, while Dartmouth travels to Princeton and Yale.
