Dartmouth and Brown seemed matched in skill for over three quarters, with each team pulling ahead by one only to see the other team take the lead. Brown (6-8, 2-4 Ivy) eventually pulled ahead by two goals with 8.5 minutes left to play in the game, but Dartmouth (5-9, 1-5 Ivy) managed to equalize before the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Brown scored first in the sudden death overtime period to win.
Dartmouth opened the game with early turnovers, and Brown capitalized on an offensive throwaway to score, beating a Big Green defender who had slipped on the slick turf around the crease. Dartmouth answered back three minutes later when Kip Dooley '12 passed from up top to Rhett Miller '11, who was almost on the goal line when he ripped the ball into the top of the net, tying the game at one.
"I felt like players were making great individual plays all over the field," head coach Andy Towers said.
The Big Green took the lead when Dooley found Miller, who had popped out top from his position on the crease and took an outside shot. Brown then scooped up the ball on its own crease after an unsuccessful Dartmouth offensive move and transitioned down field. Brown senior Teddy Daiber dodged past his defender and scored from the middle of the goal with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.
Following a Big Green foul, the team regained possession and quickly transitioned down the field. After a series of passes around the front of the cage, Adam Boardman '11 found Jeff Perkins '14, who scored from the right side. Just before the end of the half, Brown junior Parker Brown forced his way around the goal, slipped past his defender and found the back of the net to tie the game at three.
Dartmouth came out strong after the first break. Patrick Resch '14 faked a pass behind the cage and turned and connected with Alex Del Balso '12, who was trailing the transition play. Brown's next goal was unexpected Brown freshman Sam Hurster shot through two Dartmouth defenders to score on a bounce shot.
Fergus Campbell '12, who had 14 saves in the game, came up with a save and started a fast break with his clear. Resch ran down the middle of the field and fed the ball to Nikki Dysenchuk '13, who was filling the left lane and scored a low shot.
The Dartmouth defense then solidly shut down Brown's attack, causing a turnover. On offense, however, Dartmouth threw the ball away and Brown was able to counterattack and string together quick passes in transition, eventually beating Campbell's slide across the front of the cage to tie the game with six minutes left in the half.
Brown's next goal gave the Bears the lead for the first time since the beginning of the game. After receiving a pass alone on the crease, sophomore George Sherman quickly faked and dumped the ball low into the net.
In the last minute of the half, the Big Green defense forced Brown to throw the ball out of bounds, recovering possession. Campbell chucked the ball down field and Brendan Rotanz '14 scooped it up, protected his stick and bounced the ball so it came up right under the top pipe. The halftime score was 6-6.
Brown took the lead again with a difficult shot over the goalie's shoulder from the right side. Chris Costabile '13 passed to Drew Tunney '12, who kept the ball after he was hit to get to the front of the crease and scored. Dartmouth scored another quick goal as Dysenchuk shot from out high into the lower net to give his team the lead.
Dartmouth then threw the ball away on offense, allowing Brown to transition down the field. Senior Andrew Feinberg finished with a shot into the top corner. Miller then dodged his defender on the left side to get a good look in front of the goal and score again for the Big Green.
Brown then tied the game at nine each with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. Dartmouth notched one final goal before time expired, with Costabile making a pass from outside to Miller, who was waiting behind the goalie before scoring.
Brown scored three goals in a row in the fourth quarter to end the back-and-forth streak and get up by two goals. Brown defenders scored two of the three goals, capitalizing on transition plays.
"I think the game could have gone either way," Towers said. "They are a well-coached team and deserve the credit. I think both teams played very hard from start to finish."
Dartmouth was able to fight back and tie the game with a pair of late goals. First, Dysenchuk fed Costabile, who fired a goal into the low corner. Miller then received the ball after a caused midfield turnover and connected with Dysenchuk on the back post, making the game a 12-12 tie. Campbell made a key save as time ran out, sending the game into overtime.
Although Dartmouth took the first shot of the extra period, Brown gained possession and called a timeout with less than two minutes left. After a Bears shot deflected off Campbell, Parker Brown scooped up the rebound and danced in front of the cage to put in the game winner.
Because the Big Green failed to qualify for the League tournament, the game marked Dartmouth's last of the season, and the last game for the Big Green seniors.
"Their leadership on a day-to-day basis will be missed," Towers said. "They all put their hearts and souls into the program for four years and they are leaving the program better than it was when they came in. They have really moved it forward. I will miss them as people and as lacrosse players. I was an assistant coach when these guys were recruited, so when I think of my time here at Dartmouth I think of those guys."
