Under the lights in Providence, the women's soccer team lacked much needed adrenaline as they fell victim to Brown Saturday night in an Ivy League match-up.
"We played okay," goal keeper Heidi Hachtel '96 said. "We had moments at times, but it definitely was not Dartmouth playing as well as we could, and it wasn't a pretty game to watch."
Indeed, the game was downright ugly at times as the very physical Brown team gradually wore down the more skilled Dartmouth squad.
"They had continuous pressure on us, making it hard for us to play like we like to play," Holly Thomas '97 said. "We didn't handle the pressure like we should. We needed to adjust our game."
Throughout the first half, the Dartmouth squad appeared flat and, in the end, Brown capitalized giving them a 1-0 lead at half-time.
"It was frustrating that we didn't have the intensity we needed," Hachtel said. "When we stepped out on the field, something was missing."
That "something" certainly wasn't in the beginning of the second half when Brown did something to the Big Green that hadn't been done this season: The Brown team scored two goals. Yet despite a two goal deficit, Dartmouth refused to give up and retaliated when Jenna Kurowski '97 pounded in a goal inside with an assist from Brittanny Boulanger '95.
Although the Big Green began to pick up their game and make needed adjustments, time ran out and Brown pulled off a 2-1 victory, giving Dartmouth its first Ivy League loss in two seasons.
"This year, we're not just going out and doing it," Hachtel said. "We need to look within ourselves. It's one thing knowing you can do it, and completely another thing to actually go out and do it."
Brown is now the sole leader in the Ivy League as the Big Green dropped to the second position with a 5-2-1 record. However, an Ivy Championship is still not out of the question, but the Big Green will have to play flawlessly as they enter into the second half of the season.
Dartmouth will have only one practice to regroup and prepare for tomorrow's 3:30 p.m. home match at Chase Field against the always tough Boston College team.
"We have to learn from our loss; forget about it and go on," Thomas said. "We'll need to pick up our pace and intensity for Tuesday."
