Despite a disappointing season last year, the Dartmouth field hockey team erupted with a vengeance in the opening weeks of the 2004 season. After dropping their first two games during a difficult road trip to the Buckeye state, the Big Green bounced back to win its first two Ivy League contests, good enough for first place in its league.
On Sept. 4, Dartmouth dropped its opening game to Kent State in a 4-1 decision. Allison Welsh '05 scored Dartmouth's first goal of the season, while Lauren Balukjian '06 made five stops in goal.
Likewise, Dartmouth was unable to stop Central Michigan, who defeated the Big Green 2-0 Sept. 5. Although Dartmouth was shut out, it managed to out shoot the Chippewas 8-5 in the second half, foreshadowing success.
Dartmouth rebounded from its Ohio stint to win its home and Ivy League opener in a 1-0 victory Sept. 11. Audrey Knutson '07 scored her first goal of the season off a pass from captain Ashley Choren '05. The lone goal proved enough to defeat the Brown Bears, as the Big Green dominated, outshooting their opponents 15-6.
Next, Dartmouth traveled to the University of Maine for a non-league game. Knutson scored her second goal of the season, giving the Big Green an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, Maine countered, evening the score, and eventually defeating the Big Green in double overtime 2-1. Balukjian tied her career high of 11 saves.
The Big Green was then 1-3 on the season, and 1-0 in the Ivy League when they traveled down to Princeton, N. J., to take on the heralded Lady Tigers. The Tigers entered the game with a 32-game Ivy win streak. In fact, the Big Green had been winless against Princeton for the past 10 years.
After trailing Princeton 1-0 at halftime, captain Lindsay Gossage '06 stole a clearing attempt and ripped home a shot to tie the score just 2:26 into the second period. Six minutes later, Choren scored the go-ahead-goal off a pass from Knutson. Dartmouth added to their lead and secured the victory when Shala Byers '07 converted a direct corner, with the help of assists by Welsh and Gossage.
Although Princeton held advantages in both shots (10-8) and penalty corners, Dartmouth's stellar defense was able to keep the Tigers scoreless throughout the second half. Balukjian added another six stops to her overall save total this season.
Needless to say, the Big Green was stoked with their win, as they now hold bragging right to defeating the 10-time defending Ivy-League champions.
"Winning that game really proved ourselves as a team," said defenseman Nina Fulmer. "We were finally able completely come together. For so long, in our games, we've shown some flashes of great play, but we were missing important pieces to help us seal wins. This weekend we finally found those pieces.
"Winning also brings about huge changes to our league. We had other teams calling us and thanking us for finally knocking Princeton of their high horse. It was awesome."
"Now we really have to get over it all, and move on with the season and focus on the rest of our games. Especially the Ivy ones," Fulmer added.
The Big Green returns to action this Friday, Sept. 24, when they take on Hofstra at 7 p.m. at Columbia. Dartmouth will get a chance to improve their league record to 3-0 for the first time since 1987 on Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. when they host Pennsylvania at Scully-Fahey field.
