Tomorrow's field hockey game (11 a.m., Scully-Fahey Field) is a tale of two clashing colors. The Big Red of Cornell (7-8, 2-4 Ivy) comes limping into Hanover for its season finale as the losers of five straight games. The Big Green (11-4, 3-2 Ivy) is surging toward a potential postseason berth and enters the contest riding a five-game streak of its own--a winning one.
With so much at stake, don't expect Dartmouth to take Cornell lightly. The Big Green is expecting a hard-fought battle from a gritty Big Red team.
"Cornell is a very physical team. Where they lack in skill they make up for it in their speed and aggressive play," said Lisa Thomas '03.
There will also be plenty of emotion on display as the four seniors on the team play their last game at Scully-Fahey Field. Kate Alexander, Kirsten Anderson, Kristin Barlup and Abigail Clark are determined to make their final home game a pleasant memory. The emotion of the day "is just another aspect that will help us play our best," added Thomas.
While it will be the seniors' day, the Big Green will rely on the offensive firepower of two underclassmen to get past Cornell. Lauren Welsh '03 continues to lead the team in scoring (27 points), with Rebekka Stucker '04 close behind (22 points). Stucker's scoring tear resulted in her being named as the ECAC and Ivy League Player of the Week.
Expect the Dartmouth express to keep on rolling, with the emotions of senior day carrying the Big Green past Cornell and into another must-win in Monday's season finale at Brown.