NEW BEDFORD — The Dartmouth High hockey team evened the score against its cross-town rivals on Wednesday, Feb. 16, when it beat Bishop Stang’s previously undefeated team in the second matchup of the season between the two schools.

Dartmouth High started the game strong and never let up, winning the game 5-0 — after losing to Stang 3-1 on Dec. 28 — and qualifying for the state tournament in the process.

“It was probably our best effort all season,” said Dartmouth Head Coach Mike Cappello. “I’m thrilled with how the team played.”

Dartmouth senior forward Cullen Larabee opened the scoring six minutes into the game with a goal assisted by senior defenseman Reid Martin and senior forward Nick Howarth.

Less than four minutes later, Howarth gave the team its second goal with assists by Larabee and junior forward Even Moniz.

“You can’t win a game in the first period, but you can lose one,” said Bishop Stang Head Coach Ken Gouveia of Dartmouth’s 2-0 start in the first 15 minutes of play. “We just had a slow start and then the pucks didn’t break our way.”

In the second period, Dartmouth was able to maintain control of the game as Larabee scored his second — again off assists by Martin and Howarth — to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Five minutes later, senior forward Damien Medeiros scored a remarkable acrobatic goal, maneuvering the puck around the goalkeeper and slotting it into the far corner while tripping over the keeper’s outstretched leg. He was assisted on the play by Martin and senior defenseman Luke Canniff.

As the period continued, the play got rougher, leading to penalties for Dartmouth’s Howarth and Martin and for Stang’s sophomore forward Eli Ikkela.

“It got a little chippy at the end,” said Cappello, who praised his team’s ability to stay above the fray when it counted. “To beat a team like Stang you need to be disciplined.”

In the third period, the hard-nosed play continued with massive body checks dealt out by both teams. However, it was Stang that was most heavily penalized with three penalties in the period, two of which came in the final 30 seconds of the game.

The final goal came from Dartmouth freshman forward Aidan Cruz, assisted by Medeiros, with 10:18 remaining.

After the game, Cappello praised the determination of his defensemen, especially Martin, Canniff, and senior Josh Nelson.

“Those guys have been workhorses on defense,” he said.

He also highlighted the top line of Medeiros, Cruz, and senior J.C. Frates, though he said the game was a group effort.

“All three lines did their part,” he said.

Gouveia said that while the loss stung, his team would bounce back and enter the playoffs without the pressure of an undefeated season.

“It’s been over a year since we lost a game,” he said. “It’s lousy to lose one like this but everyone’s been gunning for us. We’ve had a lot of pressure on us.”

Bishop Stang (16-2-1) went on to lose its next game against Watertown on Feb. 19 and win against Matignon on Feb. 21.

Dartmouth (14-3-1) kept its streak going, winning its next three games in four days against Middleborough, Longmeadow, and Diman RVT.