It was a game they will never forget. Not only did the women of the Dartmouth lacrosse team bring home a 14-8 win from Harvard yesterday, something they have never been able to do, but in doing so, clinched the Ivy League title.
How does it feel? "Incredible," Coach Amy Patton said. "I'm just so proud of the team in so many ways. The feeling is one that I just don't want to end."
"I'm so excited for Amy Patton, because she has worked so hard in preparing us. She deserves this more than any other coach in the Ivy League.Our success is a tribute to her and the rest of the coaching staff and their constant efforts to make us a top team in the nation," co-Captain Mya Mangawang '95 said.
It has been a long time coming. Dartmouth has never beaten Harvard on Cambridge turf. Furthermore, the last time Dartmouth beat Harvard anywhere was in 1986.
No one on the present Dartmouth team, coaches included, has seen a victory over the Harvard Crimson.
"They came out like they traditionally do and scored a couple of goals," Patton said. "The last few years, I felt concerned at this, but this year they were all right."
Throughout the first half, Dartmouth and Harvard for the most part matched each other's goals. Harvard went up early with two goals, the first just 26 seconds into the game. Megan Colligan scored that one, while Sara Noonan put in the second with an assist from Chris Shortsleeve.
Co-Captain Lauren Holleran '95 responded with two more tallies for Dartmouth to even out the score, one assisted by Mangawang.
Harvard's Carrie Shumway regained the lead for the Crimson at 19:33 into the half, but that was not enough to hold back Dartmouth as Sarah Devens '96 and Maura Schneider '96 fired on Harvard goalie and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week Kate Schutt to give the Big Green a one point lead.
This back and forth play continued for the rest of the half with three more Dartmouth goals, two by Ivy League Player of the Week Wally Cook '95. The team really started playing well "once we started getting our fast-break going," Patton said.
Back on the field in the second half, Kim Medelson '97 began to take control. "Kim just got on fire. There was something in her eyes," Patton said.
Mendelson had four goals in the second half. Holleran, Jen Greene '98, and Cook also scored, giving Dartmouth seven points in the half.
Kirsten Prettyman '95 had a strong showing in goal, saving 11 of 19 shots from the Crimson.
Jen Edwards '95 gave her all for the team as well, holding Harvard's leading scorer, Cheryl Winters, to only one goal. "Jenny just took [Winters] right out of the game," Patton said. Edwards was named to the Ivy League Honor Roll this past week.
"The Ivy title is exciting, but by no means do I want this to be the pinnacle of our season," Mangawang said. "I am skeptical about getting overly excited because I don't want to lose focus on the next step in our season. There is another title on the line and that's what I have my sights set on."
