For the men, it was a disappointing start to what promises to be a tough Ivy League schedule. Dartmouth (4-3-1, 0-1 Ivy) fell behind after 35 minutes, and though the Big Green outshot Princeton, 16-14, Dartmouth could not find the back of the net. The Tigers (4-3-1, 1-0 Ivy) added two second-half goals to seal the victory.
"We're pretty gutted about it," co-captain Dan Keat '10 said. "We just really didn't defend the way we need to in an Ivy League game. We gave up three sloppy goals."
Head coach Jeff Cook said playing away from home in the Ivy League is very difficult.
"We still have confidence, we have a good team," Cook said. "We're going to lean on our seniors a lot to keep the energy up."
Senior defender and midfielder Josh Walburn opened the scoring for the Tigers as he headed in from junior forward Antoine Hoppenot's cross. Hoppenot broke down the right side and Walburn was able to capitalize on a miscommunication between goalkeeper Sean Donovan '13 and the Dartmouth defense, heading home to put the Tigers 1-0 up.
"We have to take more responsibility for defending," Cook said. "We need to build our season on more shutouts. In past years we've had success doing that."
Dartmouth had six shutouts in 2009, compared to just one clean sheet so far this season.
Co-captain Andrew Olsen '11 had a good chance shortly after the Princeton goal, but was unable to convert.
"[When] we get to the final third, we're a little tentative, and we're not getting enough penetration in that part of the field," Cook said. "In the critical areas, we didn't do enough to threaten."
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Princeton struck again just 52 seconds after the restart as Walburn notched his second goal of the game. Sophomore defender Mark Linnville sent a long throw into the box, and Dartmouth didn't deal with it effectively, allowing Walburn an opportunity at goal.
"The key to the game was the second goal," Cook said. "It was a long throw in and we didn't clear it well. We need to clear the danger at the first attempt."
In the 71st minute, Donovan denied Walburn a hat-trick with a nice save, but junior midfielder and forward Manny Sardinha put away the rebound to close out the scoring. The Tigers' ability to finish their chances was the difference in the game.
Though Marina Moschitto '14 of the women's soccer team tallied her second goal in as many games, it was not enough as the Dartmouth women (3-5-1, 1-1 Ivy) fell to a tough Princeton team (6-3, 2-0 Ivy), 2-1.
"We didn't come out sharp enough," head coach Angie Hind said. "Any time you're away from home, you have to start well. When we were looking for an equalizer in the second half, that's when we came alive. We need to force the play a bit earlier in the game."
Princeton took the lead in the 18th minute as sophomore midfielder Caitlin Blosser was able to get on the end of a long ball and send it past Dartmouth keeper Colleen Hogan '12.
Moschitto equalized three minutes before the half, receiving a cross from Chrissy Lozier '14 and firing to the far post, beating sophomore goalkeeper Kristin Watson.
"Chrissy delivered a great cross and Marina took a good touch and hit the far corner from a narrow angle," Hind said.
Hind added that she was pleased with Moschitto's development this season, as she leads the team with three goals.
"She started in her first game as a freshman, and she's kept that place due to her hard work and her ability and desire to go forward," Hind said.
Blosser notched the game winner 12 minutes into the second half after she was given too much time to control the ball in the box, allowing her to fire home from close range.
"Every Ivy game's difficult," Hind said. "I'm really happy that our next two Ivy games are going to be at home. We've been on the road a lot this season."
The women return home on Saturday as they open a three-game homestand, facing Yale University at 4:00 p.m. at Burnham Field. The men's game will follow shortly thereafter, with a kick-off at 7:00 p.m. also against Yale.
