Behind two Derek Army goals and a third period power-play tally from Ross Mauermann, fifth-ranked Providence men’s hockey team defeated Dartmouth 3-2 in the opening round of the Ledyard National Bank Classic at Dartmouth’s Thompson Arena.
With the win, the Friars (13-2-3, 6-2-1 HEA) advance to the title game of the Ledyard National Bank Classic on Monday against Air Force.
Nick Ellis finished with a career-high 21 saves for the Friars, while Charles Grant made 34 saves for the Big Green (2-11-0, 2-8-0 ECAC).
The Friars took a 1-0 lead at 16:15 of the first when Army lifted a wrap-around high past Grant for his fourth goal of the season. Army’s linemates Brandon Tanev and Kevin Rooney assisted on the play. The Friars outshot Dartmouth 14-6 in the period but Ellis made a key glove save early in the stanza on an Eric Neiley breakaway to keep the score tied at zero. At 15:25 of the second period Dartmouth tied the game at 1-1 when Geoff Ferguson passed the puck from his defensive zone to Brad Schierhorn at the offensive blue line. Schierhorn skated down the near side and found the back of the net from the middle of the faceoff circle for his second goal of the season.
An eventful third period saw Mark Jankowski have a penalty shot chance that Grant was able to get his right pad on to turn away. Jankowski earned the penalty shot attempt when he was slashed from behind on a shorthanded breakaway attempt.
Army then put the Friars up 2-1 when he crashed the net following a shot by Jankowski. Conor McPhee also assisted on the goal, which was scored at 6:32.
The Big Green answered by tying the game for a third time when Charlie Mosey slipped a backhander from the slot past Ellis at 9:20. The goal was assisted by Jesse Beamish and Jack Barre.
Dartmouth’s Schierhorn then took a five-minute major for a high hit and Mauermann converted on the ensuing power play for what proved to be the game-winning goal. He scored his fourth game-winning goal of the season by ripping a one-timer from the slot high past Grant on a feed from Nick Saracino. Steven Shamanski also assisted on the goal.
