Ice hockey team aiming for improvement after loss to Old Rochester/Fairhaven

Jan 30, 2018

For Dartmouth High’s hockey team, a rematch against Old Rochester/Fairhaven did not end in the success the team had to open its season.

Dartmouth High faced a 5-1 loss to Old Rochester/Fairhaven in the January 29 match-up, a very different story from the team’s previous 2-0 win to open its season on December 16.

“It was definitely not the outcome we wanted,” said Head Coach Mike Cappello. “It was an important game for us and they just beat us to the puck throughout the game.”

A scoreless first period led to a sudden Bulldog surge early in the second, as Tayber Labonte put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0 early into the second period. By the end of the period, Sam Austin, Jack Barrows, and Labonte had picked up three more goals. Late into the third period Evan Stanley scored the Bulldogs’ final goal of the night.

“We beat them earlier in the year and it was our first game of the season,” Cappello said. “We’re both completely different teams coming into this point, and we needed better effort tonight and we just didn’t get it.”

The Indians were only able to match in the third period, as Payton Allen scored the team’s only goal in the third period, assisted by Angelo Nicolosi.

“The first period was a sloppy period I think for both teams,” Cappello said. “We both had some opportunities, and then in the second period they kind of dominated us. We played a bit better in the third period but it was too late.”

The loss brings the Indians’ record to 5-6-2. With the season more than halfway over, Cappello is aiming for improvement.

“We need to improve in a lot of areas,” Cappello said. “We’ve only scored one goal in our past two games, so we have to start putting the puck in the net.”

It's especially important as the Indians prepare to take on league rival Bridgewater-Raynham on Saturday.

“We’re a young team and we’re just getting better,” Cappello said. “We’ve been building off of every game and today we took a step back. We just have to recoup and practice over this next week and get ready for B-R.”