Playing the underdog role against Harvard is nothing new for Dartmouth coach Judy Oberting.

“Historically, we’ve thrived in that position,” Oberting said.

When the Crimson raised its national championship banner prior to its 1999-2000 home opener, Dartmouth was the visiting team that had the privilege to watch. While most in the stands expected the Big Green to be Harvard’s 33rd straight victim dating back to early in the 1998-99 season, Dartmouth instead jumped out to a 3-1 first period lead and ultimately prevailed 5-4 in overtime.

The rematch at Dartmouth in February was more of the same. The Big Green again jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead, but Harvard battled back to go up 3-2 in the third period. The difference in the end proved to be Big Green freshman Carly Haggard—now a senior captain and Kazmaier candidate—who assisted on a game-tying goal and scored two more in the final 10 minutes for a 5-3 victory.

Despite those setbacks, Harvard still finished ahead of Dartmouth in the ECAC standings, and the two teams would meet a third time in front of 2,417 fans at Brown’s Meehan Auditorium.

For the third time, the Big Green jumped out to an early lead and found itself ahead 2-0 after two periods. And for the third time, Harvard fought back to tie it. Freshman Kalen Ingram—now a senior captain—scored the game-tying goal as the extra attacker with six seconds left to keep the Crimson alive.

That fleeting glory would only last 14 minutes on the ice. Dartmouth’s Kristina Guarino—now a Dartmouth assistant coach—scored on a hurried shot from outside to clinch a third straight Big Green victory.

Even with the defeat, Harvard was still expecting one of two at-large berths to the four-team national tournament. The Crimson, with a 21-5-3 record, was ahead of Dartmouth, then 21-10, in every selection criteria except head-to-head play. Harvard had destroyed the other at-large contender Minnesota by an 8-3 margin at the Gophers’ own rink.

Nevertheless, when the selection decisions were announced the night following Harvard’s defeat, Minnesota and Dartmouth were the chosen ones. Just like that, Harvard’s title defense was over.

“We’re obviously shocked that we’re not considered one of the four best teams in the country,” said Stone following the announcement. “We certainly feel that we are. That’s what happens when you leave things in other people’s hands.”

Role Reversal

Dartmouth, losing few seniors from its 1999-2000 team, was the consensus No. 1 for the duration of the 2000-2001 season. Harvard, losing several seniors and Ruggiero for the season to the U.S. national program, stumbled to an 8-6-0 start, including a fourth straight defeat to Dartmouth by a 5-4 margin in November.

In February, Harvard finally overcame its Big Green demons with a 3-2 victory. Dartmouth seemed headed for a sixth straight victory in the rivalry when Haggard put Dartmouth ahead 2-1 in the third period, but a Crimson goal a minute later gave Harvard new life and Botterill scored the clincher in the final minutes.

“We believed in ourselves,” Stone said after the game. “We know whatever the situation is, we’re going to scratch and claw our way back.”

The rubber match would take place in the ECAC championships in front of a league-record crowd of 2,592. Dartmouth would score three goals on screen shots from the point en route to a 3-1 victory. Both teams still advanced to the Inaugural NCAA Frozen Four.