Head coach Amy Patton candidly expressed her disappointment in losing to an underdog and having her team record another early season conference loss.
"It was a loss that really hurt," she said. "I'm not sure the last time that we lost to Brown. I still think that we have a lot of promise, and I just hope that they can turn that promise into performance."
Co-captain Liz Spence '08 commented on the team's difficulty with turning their individual talent into effective team play.
"I don't think we played to our full potential," Spence said. "The main aspect we are struggling with is converting the multitude of talent and potential we have into performance in games."
Dartmouth (4-4, 1-2 Ivy) started off strong when co-captain Kristen Barry '08 scored early, just under two minutes into the game. The Big Green held the 1-0 lead for just under ten minutes before Brown (4-5, 1-1 Ivy) put in the first of a series of three unanswered goals. Seven minutes later, the Bears led 3-1.
After a sluggish period for both teams, Dartmouth rallied with an unassisted goal by Eliza Bennett '10 with just under three minutes left in the half. Another score by Kat Collins '11 -- her eighth of the season -- tied up the contest at three goals apiece with just over a minute left.
Patton was pleased with the level of play in the first half of the game, but suggested that the team's loss may have had to do with a change in attitude after the half.
"I think that we played a great first half," Patton said. "We outplayed them, we outshot them. The shots just weren't falling, but I felt really confident that they would. Our team in the second half unfortunately started playing not to lose, and that's not going to win the game."
Brown came back from the half with intensity, scoring two goals in the first five minutes and taking back the lead, 5-3.
After a twelve minute scoreless run, Barry brought Dartmouth within one with an unassisted goal. Each team was looking strong, but the Big Green's push did not last.
The Bears seized the ball and the advantage with consecutive free position attempts in less than a minute. The two goals put the score up to 7-4 in Brown's favor.
Bennett, assisted by Kate Labrum '08, scored again with just over five minutes left in the game, bringing the tally up to 7-5, but the deficit was too great to overcome, especially when the Bears scored another goal with just over a minute left to play.
Despite a disappointing final score, Dartmouth had some defensive highlights. Alex Huestis '10 had five caused turnovers and picked up four groundballs. In goal, Julie Wadland '10 made three saves.
Patton cited the squad's continued need for more integrated team play.
"Skill-wise, like I said, I think we have a lot of promise, we just have to turn that collectively into the team," Patton said. "Every game we've had a couple players play really well, but we haven't played really well as a team, as a complete team, except for, I would say, UNH. That was our first complete game, the only one we played fully well as a team, so I think that's what we're striving for."
The team hopes to even its Ivy record in its next league contest against Cornell in Ithaca on Saturday. Before that, the Big Green will take a brief break from conference play to face Vermont at home on Tuesday.
