FINAL SCORE: No. 11 Vermont 4, Dartmouth 1
HANOVER, N.H. – Mike Santaguida stopped 26 shots and three players registered multi-point games as 11^th-ranked Vermont skated past Dartmouth 4-1 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at Thompson Arena.
 
Mario Puskarich posted a goal and an assist in the victory, while Colin Markison and Brady Shaw each collected a pair of assists. Santaguida picked up his fifth win of the year and made 14 important saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Catamounts snapped a brief two-game skid and improved to 15-5-1 (7-3-1 HEA). The Big Green extended its winless streak to four games and fell to 6-6-3 (3-4-1 ECAC).
 
Santaguida was the star of the opening period. The sophomore robbed Eric Robinson on a 2-on-1 with Tyler Sikura as he recovered across his crease for a glove save at the right post. Santaguida later kicked out a clean shot from the slot with his right pad on a Big Green power play.

"Dartmouth did a great job early on against us," said head coach Kevin Sneddon. "They were definitely the better team in the first period and we were fortunate to come out 0-0. Mike really did a great job keeping us in there. It could have been 2-0, 3-0 after one period."
 
UVM earned its first power play of the game midway through the second period and took advantage. Shaw centered a pass to the right doorstep for Jake Fallon, who stuck it home under the pads of James Kruger for a 1-0 lead. Jonathan Turk collected the second assist on the opening tally of the contest.
 
Dartmouth responded at the 16:01 mark to knot the score as Grant Oppenheimer sent a pass up the right wing for Tim O'Brien in transition. The forward skated into the right wing circle before beating Santaguida blocker side under the armpit with a wrist shot.
 
The Catamounts answered just 40 seconds later with a strong offensive shift. Kyle Reynolds threw the puck to the top of the crease from behind the net, and it deflected into the high slot off Shaw. Nick Luukko stepped into a blast through traffic and rifled the puck into the upper half of the net for the eventual game-winner.
 
Puskarich doubled the cushion just 13 seconds into the third period from a weak angle. Brendan Bradley dished Puskarich the puck from behind the net and he walked out above the goal line. The sophomore beat Kruger with a quick shot from the left doorstep before the netminder could get back across the crease.
 
Alexx Privitera put the game out of reach four minutes later, taking a centering pass from Markison in the right circle and ripping a wrister high glove side on Kruger. Santaguida kept Dartmouth at bay for the remainder of the contest and UVM claimed the three-goal win.

The Catamounts out-shot the Big Green 30-27 for the game, including a 24-13 edge in the final 40 minutes. Kruger made 26 saves in a losing effort for Dartmouth.
 
Vermont returns home next weekend for a two-game series against Northeastern at 7:05 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 16) and Saturday (Jan. 17) at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Friday is a Hockey East contest while Saturday is a non-league game with the Huskies.
 
Both games will be streamed for free in high definition on CatamounTV.com, and pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. both nights on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com.

Friday night is the Hockey East Skating Strides Against Cancer game presented by Otter Creek Awnings & Vermont Custom Closets. UVM will wear special edition pink jerseys that will be auctioned to support breast cancer research. Saturday is the TD Bank VIP Sweepstakes Game, and Vermont will host a Student Government Association Giveaway.