It's make or break time for the Dartmouth field hockey team. The Big Green is hoping that Wednesday's 4-0 win over Vermont will serve as a catalyst during a crucial week for the Dartmouth women. The team faces three games in the next seven days, including two must-wins against Ivy foes Columbia and Harvard. When the dust settles next Friday, Dartmouth will either emerge near the top of the table or face the frustration of what could have been.
Up first for Dartmouth (8-4, 1-2) is a Homecoming showdown with Columbia (4-6, 1-3 Ivy). As Lisa Thomas '03 says, "This weekend is about nothing other than revenge." The Lions surprised Dartmouth twice last year, the second time being in the ECAC tournament at Scully-Fahey Field. With that loss still fresh in their minds, Thomas says, "We are incredibly fired up for this game."
The Dartmouth women are confident and appear to be firing on all cylinders following back-to-back shutouts of UNH and UVM. Averill Doering '04 pointed to a "great week of practice" and a well-executed game plan of possession, strong individual defense and execution of corners as the keys to the Vermont win, and these will also likely determine Saturday's winner.
The team recognizes the importance of the Columbia game. "How we play Saturday will be important for the rest of the season," Thomas says.
The Lions come to Hanover in the midst of a two-game slide after picking up their first league win last weekend against Pennsylvania.
