When thinking about the most dominant sports team at Dartmouth, the Big Green men's soccer team jumps out to me as the best that Dartmouth has to offer. Not only is it an actual varsity team, but the competition the team faces, as well as the up-and-coming stars that make up the team, prove that men's soccer clearly holds the edge above any other Big Green squad.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are several teams who are part of the top tier of Dartmouth sports, including the women's basketball team, the men's baseball team and the men's rugby team (although rugby is not an actual varsity team). It's just that the evidence for my opinion is overwhelming.
The competition the men's soccer team faces is incredible. Dartmouth has played tough teams from all over the country and has much-anticipated matchups against the University of South Florida and Harvard. The team plays serious competition, as opposed to other teams, such as the men's rugby team, which plays marginally decent teams.
It can be said that, because rugby games tend to be blowouts, that makes them that much better and therefore the team is considered one of the best. However, I'd like to see the team play a tough, nail-biting game against a top-ranked squad in which the rugby team pulls out a gutsy win and proves it's elite. Until then, rugby is just the run-of-the-mill older sibling picking on the little brother.
The fact that men's soccer is ranked No. 16 nationally and constantly faces teams that prove to be real competition helps the argument that it is the best team on campus. The actual players that star on the pitch for the team also support my point.
Daniel Keat '10 has taken Lucky Mkosana '12 under his wing and taught him how to lead the team. Although Keat leads the team in goals, assists and points, Mkosana is quickly becoming a fan favorite, and is second on the team with five goals and 12 total points.
Mkosana isn't the only young player who has been passed the torch. Rookies anywhere are rarely expected to carry a team, but Sean Donovan '13 has stepped up in a very admirable fashion as the team's starting goalkeeper. Donovan cooly brushed aside the No. 18 University of Connecticut and recorded a shutout. Really, how many times do you see a rookie come in and play that well from the start? It makes my toes tingle to think that the team can have a dominant goalie for the next four years.
Aside from the indisputable talent the team displays in every game, the atmosphere at the soccer games is definitely something to be appreciated. Loud, energetic and sometime raucous crowds make the games that much better and fuel the players' drive and stamina.
It's difficult for me to put down other teams, and in no way am I insulting the efforts put out by the other Dartmouth squads. In fact, it's great to have several teams on campus that can hold their own against other gritty teams. However, I was never much of a soccer fan until I came to Dartmouth. The team, with its talent and great chemistry, opened my eyes and helped me realize that Dartmouth men's soccer is clearly the best team on campus.
