The game's result leaves the 15th-ranked Big Green and the 16th-ranked Quakers with identical 3-2 conference records, placing them in a tie for third place in the Ivy League behind Princeton and Cornell.
With three goals in the game, Whitney Douthett '07 led Dartmouth's attack. But it was the defense that dominated, allowing only four goals in 60 minutes. The Big Green never trailed in the game.
Kristen Barry '08 started the scoring for Dartmouth within four minutes of the opening whistle. Douthett and Sarah Szefi '07 added goals of their own before Penn's first score.
And as soon as the Quakers did finally net a goal, Kristen Zimmer '06 countered for the Big Green. Dartmouth led 4-1 at halftime.
Penn managed to make the game tight in the second frame. Early in the period, freshman Becca Edwards scored her first of two goals for the Quakers, closing the gap to 4-2.
Casey Hazel '06 quickly responded for Dartmouth with the team's fifth goal, but Penn refused to let the momentum swing.
Only a minute after Hazel pushed the Big Green's lead back to three, Edwards scored again. The Quakers netted the next goal, too, leaving Dartmouth to cling to a one-goal lead.
With Penn seriously threatening to take control of the scoreboard, the Big Green shifted gears and put the game away.
Dartmouth quickly established some breathing room for itself as Annie Leibovitz '06 built the lead back to two. Douthett scored the game's last two goals, completing her hat trick and leaving the game at its final score of 8-4. Hazel assisted the last goal.
Devon Willis '06 had six saves for Dartmouth in net. Penn used two goalies, who combined to stop seven shots. The Big Green outshot the Quakers 18-17 in the game.
"I am so impressed," head coach Amy Patton told the Dartmouth Athletic Department. "This is the first game all year when we've really executed our game plan. We executed from beginning to end. When the attack had to step up, they stepped up. When the defense had to step up, they shut them down."
Earlier this season, Dartmouth had trouble keeping pace in the first half. But against Penn, the Big Green took an early lead to set the tone.
"Our turnovers were low today and we had some good looks at goal. I felt like we just played smarter," Patton added.
With the loss, Penn falls to 8-5 overall, while Dartmouth improves to 7-4. The Big Green will play its last two conference games this week away at Harvard and Princeton. The Harvard game starts at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Cambridge, Mass., and Dartmouth plays at Princeton Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Tigers are undefeated in conference play (4-0) and are currently ranked 10th nationally. On Saturday they beat Harvard 14-8 at home.
Dartmouth won the Ivy League title last season. But even if it beats Princeton and Harvard, the Big Green will have to get some help to have a chance at repeating.
Cornell (4-1 in conference) also sits ahead of Dartmouth. The Big Red beat the Big Green earlier this season. On Saturday, Cornell knocked off Brown 17-8.
Behind two other teams, Dartmouth does not control its own destiny. But the players know they have to win to even have a chance at the Ivy crown.
