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HANOVER, N.H. -- Senior forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) recorded five points and junior forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) tallied four points in the 7-4 victory at Dartmouth in the Ledyard Classic Championship Game on New Year's Eve at Thompson Arena. 

With the victory, the River Hawks improve to 12-5-3 overall, while the Big Green drop to 4-6-3 on the season. UMass Lowell owns a 6-2-2 record in non-league play so far this season. 

Gambardella, who was named MVP of the tournament, notched a goal and four assists in the game, while finishing the two tournament games with seven points (2g,5a). Smith recorded his second career hat trick, an assist and a game-high eight shots on goal in the win, while senior defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) added two goals for the River Hawks and was also named to the Ledyard Classic All-Tournament Team, along with Smith and Gambardella. Zink's 28 career goals has tied Maury Edwards for the most goals by a Div. I defenseman in the program's history. Senior captain Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) finished the night with four assists. 

Dartmouth's Daniel Warpecha got the Big Green on the scoreboard first just 2:11 into the game. Dartmouth scored two goals in the second period on goals by Clay Han and Cameron Roth. Warpecha added a second goal at 7:13  in the third period to cap off the scoring for the Big Green. 

Freshman goaltender Garrett Metcalf (Salt Lake City, Utah) made his third career start and played the first 30:26, while making nine saves and allowing three goals. Freshman Tyler Wall (Leamington, Ont.) came on in relief of Metcalf and made 13 stops, allowing one goal in the final 29:34 of play. Dartmouth's Devin Buffalo made 36 saves in the losing effort for the Big Green. 

UMass Lowell outshot Dartmouth, 43-26, in the game, including a 22-9 shot advantage in the second frame. The River Hawks went 3-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the game. 

Freshman forward Ryan Lohin (Chadds Ford, Pa.) went 13-of-17 (76%) from the face off circle to lead the River Hawks. 

The River Hawks return to non-conference action on Tuesday, January 3rd at ECAC foe Rensselaer. Game time from Houston Field House is 7 p.m.