In a clash between titans, the women's lacrosse team stripped the Tigers of their stripes on Saturday as Dartmouth outgunned Princeton, 10-8. The game, played at a neutral site at Tufts University, was perhaps the most critical match of the season for both teams.
Princeton is the defending Ivy League champion. Yet, Dartmouth held the title only one year before that. Indeed, the Dartmouth/Princeton lacrosse rivalry has evolved into a classic tete-a-tete that leaves both teams hungrier for more the following year.
This year was no different.
"Through toughness and determination, we proved that we are the better team," tri-Captain Andrea Krumholz '97 said.
Coming out strong, Dartmouth dominated for the first twelve minutes. Tri-Captain Kim Mendelson '97 busted through the gates and split the posts in the opening minutes give the Big Green an early lead.
Dartmouth chipped in three more goals as freshman Katie Graw, junior Julia Morrill, and Mendelson each found the back of the net in the opening 12 minutes of play. Dune Thorne '98 chalked up three assists to set up the salvo.
"All around, we had a great start to the game," tri-Captain Kelly Hannigan '97 said. "We came out on fire."
Before the first half came to a close, Hannigan and Heather McNulty '99 both penetrated the Tigers' defense to add two more to the Big Green score.
Princeton coach Chris Sailer changed goalies in the face of the seemingly unstoppable Dartmouth offensive strike. With the switch in the net, the Tigers' offense stepped up and launched its own counter-strike.
The ensuing 18 minutes of play offered little salvation for Dartmouth as Princeton's rampage put the Tigers on top, 7-6.
"Coach called a time-out and told us to pick up our heads and play with confidence," Hannigan said. "We came out of the huddle and took it to them."
Morrill led the Dartmouth comeback with two more goals as Hannigan and Mendelson each added one to catapult the Big Green to a solid 10-7 lead in the final minutes.
"We proved both poised and confident in tight situations," goalie Sarah Carlson '99 said. "Defense was very gritty today, picking up all the garbage on the ground."
In the closing minutes of play, the Big Green defense proved to be a staunch foe for the Tigers, allowing only one more goal.
Between the posts, Carlson was on top of her game as she tallied 13 saves, two of which were on free-position shots.
"Today's victory was a total team effort and the product of many months of hard work," Krumholz said.
With the win, No. 11 Dartmouth improved to 4-0 while No. 8 Princeton fell to 2-4.
"Hopefully we will carry this momentum into the rest of the season," Hannigan said. "We just have to take each game one at a time and the results will take care of themselves."
After this victory, the Big Green will have a short break before their next match on Friday against the Pennsylvania Quakers in Philadelphia.
