The Dartmouth field hockey team captured the ECAC Championship crown for the first time in history this weekend.
The team beat Ursinus College on Saturday, 1-0 and on Sunday moved on to the championship round versus Yale,who had defeated Cornell in the late game Saturday afternoon.
After a sudden-death overtime victory against the bulldogs, 3-2, the team celebrated a victory that was a long time overdue.
"I'm extremely proud of the team," Coach Julie Dayton said. "The six seniors have been through a lot this year, and this championship shows how they just played the sport they loved, period. It's a nice pay-off, and very well-deserved."
In Saturday's win against Ursinus, the lone goal came from junior forward Kelly Hannigan early in the second half, unassisted. Dartmouth controlled the game and played tough against a very physical team.
"We had great passing combinations," Allison Pell '96 said. "The midfield especially played well under pressure. Ursinus had an off-sides trap going on the right wing, so it was hard for us to score. We played together, though."
The togetherness continued on Sunday, despite the freezing temperature and wind. Yale's Kelli Bartlett and Sarah Martinez both scored in the first half, making the score 2-0 with just over 10 minutes to go.
But the Big Green did not let down as they answered those two goals with one from Kathleen Hickey '96. With 6:22 left in the first half, Hickey scored from inside the circle, off of a pass from Amy Coughlin '96.
"I think we controlled the first half, even though we were losing," goalkeeper Lauren Demski '96 said. "We took possession and capitalized better than we usually do. In the second half, we just maintained that possession and executed."
The execution was carried out by Weze Shorts '99.
Dartmouth fought back in the second half, taking more shots on goal and working to score. Finally with 18:44 left in regulation, Shorts tied the game on her breakaway goal.
The game went into a six-player 15 minute overtime, where Dartmouth took numerous shots on goal. With 5:33 left in the game, Shorts received a cross and the goalie came out of the box to block it. Amidst a mad scramble in front of the net, Shorts lost her balance, fell to the ground, while hitting the ball in the cage.
"I knew that the goalie had a habit of coming outside of the net," Shorts said. "I just got the ball and shot it, even though I had completely lost my footing."
The goal marked the beginning of a joyous celebration on the field, and the bittersweet end to a long season.
"Our finish is a tribute to how close we are as a team," Pell said. "We have all helped each other to achieve. We have a strong base- and even though a lot was working against us, we made it. Right from the beginning, it was a test."
The test really began this summer, when teammate Sarah Devens '96 took her own life. The seniors especially remembered her yesterday.
"I wanted it for Devil," Demski said. "In the back of my mind, I really did. This was a great way to finish out the year, on a positive note. It's a stepping stone for the program, but for the players themselves, too."
For her efforts on the field, senior Cynthia Roberts received the most valuable player award for the tournament.
As the Dartmouth field hockey team's season comes to a close, they will all inevitably remember how much they achieved this season- and more importantly, who was looking out for them.
