Homecoming weekend is all about two things not getting burned and going to sports games. Whether you are a '15 and the bonfire leaves you both mentally and physically exhausted, or an upperclassmen looking forward to telling the freshmen how bad their class is, everyone is getting excited about next weekend's sporting events. We all know football is playing Columbia University on Saturday, but let's take a look at some of the other big games we should all head out to support.
On Saturday, the field hockey team will host Columbia for an afternoon game that is sure to go down to the wire. In the past four years there has been basically nothing that has separated these two teams. Dartmouth (8-5, 3-1 Ivy) and Columbia (6-6, 3-1 Ivy) have split their last four meetings, with Columbia emerging victorious with a score of 5-2 last season.
Dartmouth is looking to bounce back after a tough 1-5 loss to Yale, its only loss in Ivy League play this season, and there is no doubt in the players' minds that beating the Lions on Chase Field this Saturday will help build some momentum for the last stretch of the season, a period that pits the Big Green against Boston College, Harvard University and Cornell University.
Once you finish up with field hockey, grab a bite to eat and then head on over to Burnham Field to watch the men's soccer team go up against Columbia at 4 p.m. After a big 2-1 win away at the University of Pennsylvania last weekend, Dartmouth (5-4-2, 2-1-0 Ivy) will hope to improve its standing in the Ivy League and send a message out to the remainder of its opponents this season. Under the leadership of captains Nick Pappas '12 and Lucky Mkosana '12, the Big Green has had its fair share of close, tough games over the past weeks, and the Homecoming showdown does not look like it will be any different. Columbia (5-6-1, 2-1-0 Ivy) is coming off a big win against defending Ivy League champs Princeton University, and if the Big Green has not started taking the Lions seriously, it should.
After seeing the soccer team defend home turf, head to Alumni Gym for the 6 p.m. women's volleyball game against Harvard (10-7, 3-4 Ivy). Dartmouth (11-7, 3-4 Ivy) is looking to keep the good times going after thumping Cornell 3-0 this weekend. The Big Green has had Harvard's number over the past few seasons, boasting a 7-2 record against Ivy League opponents in the last nine meetings. But if you think this game is going to be a walk in the park for Dartmouth, think again. When the two teams met in September it took a tight fifth set to decide the winner, with Dartmouth coming out on top, 15-10, in the deciding set.
Finally, to round out an action-packed Saturday of sports, the women's soccer team will host Columbia under the lights at 7 p.m. Things have not \ quite gone as planned for Dartmouth's team this year, as some tough breaks early in the season have put the Big Green in a 3-9 hole (1-3 Ivy) this season. The good news? Dartmouth still has four critical games left that could dramatically change the complexion of this season. After playing at Boston University last Wednesday, the girls finish off the season with three big conference games against Columbia, Harvard and Cornell. While the games against Harvard and Cornell are important, they will mean little if the team fails to get past Columbia (4-9, 2-2 Ivy) on Saturday. The team is certainly aware of this game's importance, and even the least committed Dartmouth sports fan should be out on the field cheering them on and making sure they get the win they need.
