The Dartmouth women's soccer team had a very up and down weekend, losing a tight overtime game that they probably shouldn't have even been in and winning a tight contest that could have been a blowout.
The Big Green lost to No. 19 University of Maryland 2-1 in overtime on Friday night before rebounding on Sunday to defeat Monmouth University by the same score in regulation.
The squad finished the weekend with a record of 7-5-2 (4-1-0 Ivy), heading into its final two weeks of play and with the Ivy League title still within reach.
Friday night at College Park, Md., the Green realized just how competitive ACC soccer can be, as they were dominated by the Terrapins for much of the game.
But despite outshooting Dartmouth 24-7, Maryland did not find the back of the net until forward Robin McCullough gave Maryland a 1-0 lead with just 15 minutes remaining. McCullough ignited the Homecoming crowd all night with quality chances and near misses.
The Big Green fought back as Jen Murray '01 fed Melissa Roth '00 and Roth deposited the ball past the outstretched arms of Maryland goalkeeper Riki-Ann Serrins at 85:46. The hook-up marked Roth's fifth goal and Murray's second assist of the season.
Dartmouth goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill '01 was huge all night making 11 saves, including nine in the first half, but couldn't save another McCullough shot five minutes in to the first overtime session -- sending the Green to New Jersey with a 2-1 overtime loss and a sour taste in their mouths.
It is not surprising, then, that the Green jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first 16 minutes of play on a soggy field in West Long Branch, N.J. against the Monmouth Hawks.
Katie Roda '00 scored her second goal of the season from just three yards out on a short touch pass from Roth, who extended her team-leading scoring total to 16 points. Just over eight minutes later, tri-captain Betsy Dobbin '98 crossed the ball to Murray, who one-timed her fifth goal of the season.
That would be all the offense needed for the day, though the Hawks did rally late in the game as Teresa Perpinan scored a goal in the 71st minute to make the game interesting.
Dartmouth goalkeepers Luckenbill and Annie Eckstein '98 were otherwise flawless on the day, as time expired with a 2-1 Big Green win.
Dobbin will obviously take the win, but was not necessarily happy with the play of the team. "It's really easy for us to lay out excuses because the field was terrible and it was the tail end of a very long bus trip," she said.
"But when it comes down to it, our team was much, much better than a 2-1 victory. Thank goodness we came away with a win, but I feel as though we had no enthusiasm out there," Dobbin added.
The Big Green have only three games remaining on their schedule, a home and away with two teams from Boston and then a trip to New York City to take on the Columbia Lions.
The Green will take on the Boston University Terriers and their brand new turf field, a type on which the Green have never set foot on. Then they will return home for a Homecoming battle with the Harvard Crimson, in a game which will in all probability decide the Ivy title, as both teams will enter the game with 4-1 Ivy records.
It will be Senior Day against the Crimson and there is nothing that Dobbin and her fellow seniors want more than to beat the Crimson. Dobbin seemed confident, saying, "This is our last big Ivy game and I know everyone will come out fired up for it. I would say our chances are pretty high this year to come home with an Ivy Title."
