After concluding a non-league schedule highlighted by victories over top-10 ranked Maryland and Notre Dame, the no. 12 Dartmouth men's lacrosse team traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday to embark on the Ivy League portion of its season squaring off against the University of Pennsylvania. The Big Green picked up right where it left off from its win over Notre Dame last weekend by defeating the Quakers 8-7 in a game marked by scoring streaks from both teams.
The win starts Dartmouth out on the right foot as it looks to conquer a daunting series of Ancient Eight opponents over the coming weeks in hopes of qualifying for the NCAA tournament later this spring. The visiting Big Green began the quest for its second Ivy League title in the past three years with a slow first quarter of play, as Penn scored the only goal in the opening period and out-shot its visitors 8-3.
However, Dartmouth regrouped and quickly retaliated in the second quarter, as attackman Jamie Coffin '06 sparked the Big Green offensive charge with the squad's first score just under three minutes into the period. Starter Nick Bonacci '07 registered the second Dartmouth goal on a deft move from behind the net to wrap around on the right side and sneak the ball past Penn goalie Denis Cole at the 9:46 mark of the second frame. Coffin continued the scoring onslaught between both him and Bonacci with a shot from the top of the crease less than a minute later, pushing the Dartmouth advantage to 3-1 in front of a sun-drenched crowd at Franklin Field.
"Hopefully we can build from this win and have it carry over for the rest of our games," Coffin said.
After surrendering the only Penn goal of the second frame, Dartmouth again poured on the offense with another marker from Bonacci, who was fed by tri-captain Ben Grinnell '05 in front of the cage. The Big Green continued its second-quarter dominance as middie Brad Heritage '06 charged through the teeth of the Penn defense and fired at point-blank range into the net for the team's fifth and final goal of the first half. The tables unfortunately turned on the Big Green in the second half, as its own scoring streak late in the first half was mirrored by Penn's offensive surge near the end of regulation.
The third quarter brought with it a more balanced Big Green attack, as Grinnell opened the second half by out-muscling numerous Penn defenders and finding the net on the team's first possession after intermission. Penn quickly responded to the 6-2 deficit by pulling within three on a goal from the perimeter at the 10:46 mark of the third quarter. However, Dartmouth would not relinquish its lead easily, as longstick Ben Lovejoy '06 tallied the Big Green's seventh goal to push the Dartmouth lead to 7-3. Penn scored again before the third period of play concluded, but nonetheless left the Big Green in command heading into the final fifteen minutes of regulation.
With attackman Ryan Danehy '06 recording the eighth Big Green goal less than a minute into the fourth quarter, it seemed easy to assume that the laxers would return to Hanover with a comfortable win over its hosting Ivy League foes.
Penn, however, would not be put away so easily. The Quakers notched up the offensive intensity and rattled off three unanswered scores to pull within one of the Big Green with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Luckily for Dartmouth, the Big Green defense remained steadfast for the 8-7 win despite repeated attempts by Penn to score the game-tying goal in the final minutes of the contest. Goalie Andrew Goldstein '05 again rose to the late-game occasion, making seven total saves despite facing 38 shots from Penn, 18 of which came in the final period alone.
The final defensive stand was also spearheaded by tri-captains Adam White '05 and Pat Keeley '05, two defensemen who have been instrumental in guiding the Big Green to their current 5-2 overall record.
"Against Penn, we showed up to play for three quarters, and luckily that was enough for the victory," explained Keeley. "When things started to slip away in the fourth quarter, guys stepped up the intensity which allowed us to win the game."
Up next for the Big Green is a pivotal home contest against Ivy League-leading Cornell at Scully-Fahey field this Saturday. Keeley underscored the significance of the squad's team effort in the upcoming game.
"It is going to be extremely important that our whole team shows up to play for four quarters against Cornell," Keeley said.
Opening face-off at Scully-Fahey Field is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
