The Big Green currently sits in second place behind Brown (9-1-1, 2-0-0 Ivy), who upset Harvard yesterday. Penn (4-5-2, 1-1-0 Ivy) drops into a three-way tie for third in the Ivy League standings with Harvard (8-2-1, 1-1-0 Ivy) and Princeton (3-7-1, 1-1-0 Ivy).
Frustrated by its tie against Yale last week, Dartmouth was certainly looking for a win against Penn.
"I think our team had our minds set on a win today," Miller said. "We knew we needed one."
Although the Big Green had only three shots on goal all night, the team was able to capitalize on its few attempts, converting two out of those three chances.
The game was a typical Ivy League match, and just like against Yale last week, it was extremely physical, with both sides being called for a number of penalties. Dartmouth was booked for 14 fouls during the game while Penn was similarly called for 13 transgressions.
Dartmouth got on top early, notching its first goal in the ninth minute of the game. Nick Christman '08 fed a beautiful pass to Rothenberg, who was able to slip it past the Quakers' keeper.
Aggravated by the early score, Penn tried to rebound, knocking off six shots over the next 11 minutes. However, Dartmouth's backline was up to the task, enduring the flurry of shots and blocking some, with goalkeeper Sean Milligan '09 forced to make just a single save, his only save of the half.
Ben Salmon '10 had a breakaway chance with 10 minutes remaining in the half, but the Penn goalkeeper was up to the task, turning away the shot to prevent Dartmouth from taking a 2-0 halftime lead.
The Dartmouth attack was helped by a strong showing by its midfield, which set up plays for the Big Green forwards and kept the ball in Penn's half.
"We were winning first headers, getting balls down," Brian Lappas '08 said. "It made the offense's job a lot easier."
"We had a much better connection between the midfielders and the forwards," Miller said. "We've been struggling with that this year."
Though Penn had tallied more shots and corner kicks in the first half, Dartmouth maintained its 1-0 advantage at the break.
Early in the second half, Dartmouth tried sending balls deep into Penn territory to bypass the defense. The strategy worked, and just six minutes into the period, Miller increased Dartmouth's lead to 2-0 on a pass from Rothenberg.
"[Penn] had a lot of trouble with the balls over the top," Lappas said.
Dartmouth's defense allowed only four shots in the second half and continually frustrated the Penn attack. Despite last-ditch efforts by the Quakers in the second half, Dartmouth held onto its lead to get the victory.
"Our defense played solid; we shut them down," center back Bryan Giudicelli '11 said. "We have the best defense in the Ivy League."
Milligan had two saves in the second half and three for the game to keep Penn scoreless. The shutout was Milligan's seventh clean sheet of the season.
Dartmouth's next game will take place over Homecoming weekend against Columbia, and, as Lappas put it, "it will be a battle."
"It will be nice to play in front of fans," Giudicelli said. "And it's a huge chance for us to come out on top."
The match is set for Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., at the new Whitey Burnham Field.
