If there's any team that can relate to the streaky play of the Dartmouth field hockey team, it would be New Hampshire. After winning five out of six games, the Big Green's Granite State rivals have lost their last five and enter today's game (4 p.m. at Scully-Fahey field) with a 5-8 record.
Dartmouth (6-4) is looking to rebound after a tough loss to BU and hold onto its newly acquired national ranking (No. 20). Revenge is certainly on Dartmouth's mind after a 4-3 double-OT loss at UNH last year.
Manchester, N.H., native Caitlin Barrett '04 recognizes the significance of the match-up, noting "this game is our biggest rivalry since the winner gets New Hampshire bragging rights."
With two tough teams taking the field, Barrett believes the key lies in which team can finish the chances that it creates. Finishing was certainly a problem against BU, as the Dartmouth women outplayed the Terriers but wound up on the short end of a 1-0 result.
Finishing won't get any easier if Dartmouth is forced to play without its leading scorer, Lauren Welsh '03. Welsh received stitches after taking a stick to the shin on Tuesday and her status is questionable.
Welsh remains upbeat and feels that today is "a great opportunity for us" to put Tuesday's mistakes behind them.
The Big Green takes pride in its home turf and Welsh feels this will be to their advantage. She said, "UNH is always huge, it will come down to who puts more hustle and heart onto the field."
With such an effort, there's no reason why Dartmouth can't regain the title of "New Hampshire's best" and give Granite State natives like Barrett plenty to brag about the next time they go home.
