The Dartmouth men's rugby team finished a regular fall season that it dominated with a landslide victory over Harvard University on Saturday. The women's team was less successful, however, and was unable to carry the momentum it built last weekend against Yale University as it fell to the Crimson.
The men's team ended its Ivy League season undefeated with a 620 win over Harvard at Brophy Field. The Big Green scored early and often in the rout, capping a great fall season in which it went 6-1 against all teams played and 6-0 in the League. This year's senior class has also never given up a point to Harvard.
Justin Ciambella '13 opened the scoring with a penalty, putting the Big Green up 3-0. Kevin Clark '14 added a try soon after, and Ciambella converted to push the score to 10-0. Co-captain Bill Lehman '12 capped his career with a try to extend the lead.
Madison Hughes '15 also played a phenomenal game, scoring three tries in the match.
The Big Green led at the half, 36-0, and came out strong in the second half to seal the win. Captain Paul Jarvis '12 scored a try and increased the lead to 550.
Harvard did not give up, however, and with almost no time left on the clock, Harvard had the ball on the Dartmouth 10-meter line. Then, in what Jarvis called "the play of the game," Ciambella scooped up a loose ball and bolted down the field.
Sprinting down the sideline and weaving in and out of defenders, Ciambella kept moving forward. Eventually, and seemingly improbably, Ciambella reached the goal line and scored a try as time expired, capturing a 620 win.
"We played solid," Jarvis said. "We were the better team that day."
Playing against a perennial rival in a well-attended Homecoming match gave the game additional significance, Jarvis said.
"This win is a testament to not only our squad, but to our seniors," Jarvis said. "[It was the] end of a long road, a great way to go out."
The team will now prepare for the Ivy Sevens Championships in early November, before it readies to play at the Fifteens and Sevens National Championships in the spring.
Although it fought hard in a back-and-forth match, the women's rugby team failed to qualify for the League playoffs after a 2712 loss to Harvard on Saturday.
Harvard scored first on a try but was unable to convert, and it took a 50 lead. The teams were evenly matched, with neither managing to score for the remainder of the half.
Despite a try by Maddy Sturm '13, the Big Green failed to hold the lead as Harvard scored to create a 10-7 advantage. Harvard scored again before Ashley Afranie-Sakyi '13 scored a try to put the Big Green back in the game.
Dartmouth was unable to produce any more offense, however, and the Crimson scored twice more to take the game, 2712.
The score isn't necessarily reflective of skill and effort throughout the game, as the Big Green dominated in terms of possession, Ginna Roach '12 said.
"This was our best game as a team," Roach said.
Although the seniors said they were humbled by the loss, the team's season is not over. The women's rugby team plays two consolation games and will attend a number of tournaments, including the New England Elite Eight and the Ivy Sevens tournament, on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, respectively.
