In an intense showdown during their home opener at Thompson Arena on November 1, the Dartmouth women’s hockey team faced a narrow defeat against the No. 15-ranked Brown University, finishing the match with a score of 2-1. The Big Green’s struggles continued with a second loss the following day against Yale University, marking their season record at an unfortunate 0-6. This followed a challenging series of earlier road games where they were outmatched by No. 12 Penn State and fellow ECAC competitors Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Union College. A notable turnout of 680 enthusiastic fans filled the stands at Thompson Arena to witness the action against Brown, showcasing the community support for the team, according to Dartmouth Sports.
The game commenced with high energy, as forward and team captain Lauren Messier ’25 expertly seized the puck during the face-off against Brown’s talented forward Jade Igina, setting an intense tone for the match.
Dartmouth’s offense found their rhythm just five minutes into the second period. They effectively broke through Brown’s defense during a power play, resulting in a goal shot by forward Meredith Jensen ’26. The momentum surged as forward Hamilton Doster ’27 converted the rebound, giving Dartmouth a 1-0 lead that ignited the hopes of their home crowd.
“[The goal] was definitely a good team effort,” Doster remarked enthusiastically. “We’d worked on that play a lot in practice. … Our power play did a really good job of throwing the puck and having bodies there to crash.”
The success of the power play was a testament to the team’s relentless practice efforts and strategic execution, according to head coach Maura Crowell. “Scoring on the power play is always fun,” Crowell shared. “And for me [it was all about] just seeing some gutsy plays and possessing the puck more.”
The Bears retaliated shortly after with a power play of their own, resulting in a goal by forward Ava Decoste, which leveled the score at 1-1. The match remained fiercely competitive, with Dartmouth holding their ground against Brown for a majority of the second period. The prolonged stalemate was “not a great feeling,” Messier expressed candidly. “You want to be up,” she added, reflecting the team’s desire to lead.
In the third period, Brown took the lead, ultimately edging out the Big Green with a final score of 2-1 despite the commendable offensive efforts displayed by Dartmouth’s lineup. “You work to climb out of those situations, and … we weren’t able to do that today,” Messier noted somberly. “But the good news is there’s lots to build off of.”
The Dartmouth squad, however, remains optimistic despite the rough start to their season. “I think we have a lot of fight in us and a lot of pride in the program,” Crowell affirmed. “You can get bogged down in what our record is, but if you actually look at the product on the ice from game to game, they’re clearly playing a better team game and their compete level is high.”
Mirroring her coach’s optimism, Messier emphasized her pride in the team’s progress, despite the less-than-desirable outcome. “We saw a lot of things come together that we’d been working on throughout the weekend practice,” she said. “…I think that we all just need to expect a little more from ourselves and give 110% in order to get the outcome that we want.”
Messier also lauded freshman goalie Michaela Hesová ’28 for her impressive performance as a defensive anchor in the net. “Our goalie Michaela … has been standing on her head the whole season for us,” Messier praised. “She’s awesome, calm, cool, and collected. She knows what to do in a high-pressure situation.”
In Dartmouth’s close 2-1 loss against Yale on Saturday night, Hesová showcased her skills with an impressive total of 36 additional saves, bringing her weekend and season totals to 61 and 188 respectively. Reflecting on the weekend, Doster remarked, “We know exactly what it feels like to lose, so we can use that sort of motivation for [the future].”
**Interview with Dartmouth Women’s Hockey Forward, Hamilton Doster**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Hamilton. After a tough match against Brown where you lost 2-1, how are you feeling about the game and the team’s performance overall?
**Hamilton Doster:** Thank you for having me! It was definitely a hard-fought game, and while we’re disappointed with the outcome, there were some moments of greatness that we can build on. Our power play goal was a highlight for us, as it showed how well we can execute our plays when we all work together.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the power play goal where you scored from a rebound. Can you walk us through that moment?
**Hamilton Doster:** Sure! It all started with a good setup from Meredith Jensen, who took a great shot. I just focused on positioning myself for the rebound. We had practiced that exact play a lot, so when the moment came, it felt natural. It really was about everyone being in the right place and supporting each other on the ice.
**Interviewer:** The team now stands at 0-6 after the loss to Yale the next day. What do you think are the biggest challenges you’re facing right now?
**Hamilton Doster:** I think the biggest challenge is finding consistency. We’ve had some strong plays and moments in the games, but we need to piece them together over a full three periods. It’s tough when we can see glimpses of our potential but struggle to maintain that throughout the game.
**Interviewer:** The turnout of 680 fans at Thompson Arena must have felt great despite the loss. How does community support impact the team’s morale?
**Hamilton Doster:** It really means the world to us. Having our friends, family, and fans there makes it feel like a real home game. Their energy fuels us on the ice, and it’s a reminder of why we’re doing this. We want to give them something to cheer for, and their support keeps us motivated.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what are your priorities in practice this week to turn things around for the team?
**Hamilton Doster:** We’ll definitely focus on maintaining our momentum and working on our defensive play. We know we can score, but we need to tighten things up to prevent goals against us. I think also just building confidence with every practice will help us step up during the games.
**Interviewer:** Great insights, Hamilton. Best of luck in your upcoming games!
**Hamilton Doster:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and hope to turn things around soon.