Dartmouth's women's lacrosse team, ranked No. 17 in the nation, lost to No. 5 Syracuse, 18-5, in its first game of the 2008 season on Sunday.
After the loss, head coach Amy Patton highlighted both the strength of the Syracuse team (2-0, 0-0 Big East) and the need for the Big Green (0-1, 0-0 Ivy) to step up its level of intensity.
"I think the only place we can go is up -- it was a rough game," Patton said. "Syracuse is very good, but we obviously aren't 13 goals worse than them, so to speak. I think we we're really disappointed that we played so poorly. It was nothing fancy or mind-boggling that was missing on our part, it was just on really basic stuff that we had break-downs."
The Orange started off the game strong, scoring 11 unanswered goals in the first half to build a hefty lead against Dartmouth.
In the second half of the game, Eliza Bennett '10 scored the Big Green's first point.
Syracuse then made five goals in just six minutes, bringing the score up to 16-1 with 20 minutes left in the game.
Kat Collins '11 stopped the Orange surge with her first goal in intercollegiate play, catalyzing a four goal run for Dartmouth in the final 15 minutes of the game. Syracuse scored only twice before the end of the match.
Co-captain Kristen Barry '08 led Dartmouth in scoring, putting up two of the five goals against the Orange.
Katherine Chiusano '09 also scored and assisted a goal. Broghan Cully '11 assisted Chiusano's goal, which marked Cully's first collegiate point.
Big Green goaltended Julie Wadland '10 made nine saves, sharing goal-time with Ashley Heist '08, who also had a stop.
Patton expressed the squad's need to develop its skills as a team, rather than to focus on individual achievements.
"We had a few players that I thought played okay, but overall we're much more concerned about us playing well as a team -- that's the only way we're going to win games," Patton said. "We're not a team that is going to win because just a couple of people play well."
Patton added that she was pleased by the team's seniors."I've been really impressed by our senior leadership, I think those four in our senior class -- my hat's off to them," she said. "I think they're really incredible leaders, the four of them lead in very different ways. They're doing a really good job with this young team."
The team looks to improve as the season continues, as it has been practicing for two or three weeks less than colleges that provide athletic scholarships.
According to Barry, the team must intensify its practices in order to play competitively for the rest of the season.
"The game did not go as well as we would have hoped, but there are always positives to take from a game like that," she said. "It has taught us that practices are far more important than games, which is why it is critical that we push each other harder while at practice. Practicing at game speed and with great intensity is what will prepare us for each and every game, especially thinking ahead to J[ames] M[adison U[niversity]."
Barry was hopeful about the rest of the season, as well as for the teams chances in Ivy League competition.
"We continue to hear that we are a young team, but the younger players are extremely talented," she said. "By utilizing their talent and implementing a gritty fight, we can get where we want to be. We have high hopes for this season, as we do every year. The Ivy League championship is something we strive for and take great pride in, but it is the journey to get there that means the most. By making the most of every little opportunity, we will see larger strides in reaching our potential."
The Big Green will face No. 14 JMU in its home opener this Thursday.
