After a tough time at the Concordia tournament last weekend, the women's hockey team looks to pull out of its slump with two home games this weekend.
In order to hold onto its first-place Ivy and second-place ECAC rank, Dartmouth has no choice.
This weekend the team will meet two teams it defeated just two weeks ago. And while both the Cornell and St. Lawrence games are important for ECAC standings, the Big Green have dubbed Saturday's game against Ivy foe Cornell "the most important game of the year."
The reason is simple: a win tomorrow over the Big Red will put Dartmouth in prime position for an Ivy League Championship in 1998; as well as secure the Big Green's number two seeding in the ECAC standings for yet another week.
Although the St. Lawrence game will not count toward the Ivy standings, it is equally important because of its effects within the ECAC.
"We came off a tough weekend last weekend, but I don't think that will affect us too much," Michelyne Pinard '98 said. "The team knows what this game means, and I think we will get the job done."
While Dartmouth was successful two weeks ago, two more wins are certainly not guaranteed.
"I think that Cornell will play with even more intensity than they did two weeks ago, because it is a do-or-die situation for them," captain Sarah Hood '98 said. "It will be important for us to jump on them right from the drop of the puck and not let them get any momentum. They have some talented players who will do some damage if we give them room to move the puck."
Talent definitely abounds on the Cornell team (8-4-0). Colette Bredin leads not only the Cornell offense, but also holds the number two spot in the ECAC for overall scoring. She has tallied 13 goals and 7 assists for 20 ECAC points this season.
Teammate Alison Stewart has also proved her worth on the Big Red offense. She totals eight goals and seven assists for 15 ECAC points and an 11th place ranking.
Goalie Alanna Hayes carries a 1.70 goals-against average this season and a .935 save percentage, becoming one of the best goalies in the league.
"It is going to be another up and down, fast pace, quality game like it was two weeks ago," Pinard said. "I think we have a slight psychological advantage having beaten them once, but I think the team realizes that we need to play well Saturday in order to pull out the win."
SLU (2-9-1), while having its own talent, has not been as successful this season as Cornell, which is tied for fourth place in the ECAC. The Saints have remained near the bottow of the 12-team ECAC throughout the season and currently hold 10th place.
Dartmouth will have to shut down SLU's big guns Heather Cook, who had two goals and an assist in SLU's unsuccesful 5-3 effort against the Big Green on January 18, and Caroline Trudeau, who had a goal and an assist.
Emily Stein, who will play between the posts for SLU, has a 3.80 goals against average this season.
Dartmouth has its own share of talent this season. Freshman Jen Wiehn has recently crept up in the standings to take third place in the ECAC with six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. Hood is right behind her with 17 points on nine goals and eight assists.
Goalie Meaghan Cahill '01 has played every minute of every game this season and currently ranks number six in the ECAC in goals against average (2.65).
In preparation for this weekend, the team has been working on finshing plays and scoring goals, for one thing. Another focus has been in-zone coverage.
"We have been a little weak in that area this season and against teams like Cornell that can really hurt you," Pinard said.
The puck drops in Thompson Arena at 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.
"We are second in the ECAC and first in the Ivy League, and we would like to stay there," Hood said. "We would also like to prove to ourselves and anyone else who is watching that we belong at the top. Our win over Cornell in Ithaca was not a fluke."
