Dartmouth improved on offense an area where the team has struggled this season as the game progressed. The Big Green jumped out to an early lead with an impressive shot from defender Aurelia Solomon '13 just 10 minutes into the game. Solomon picked up the ball in Crimson territory and tore through the Harvard defense to take a shot from 25 yards out. The ball settled into the top shelf of the Crimson net, giving Dartmouth the lead and a confidence boost.
Dartmouth and Harvard played a balanced match throughout the first half. Both teams had a total of five shots in the period.
Dartmouth utilized a diverse offensive attack, with backfield players contributing to the shooting action. Defender Amanda Flugstad-Clarke '15 had two shots on goal, while midfielder Emma Brush '13 led the way with three shots in the half.
The Crimson responded in the 44th minute, when Harvard senior Melanie Baskind scored her League-leading sixth goal of the season on a shot from 10 yards out.
Harvard and Dartmouth continued to battle in the second half, with no one team dominating the period. Dartmouth's offense continued to put pressure on the Harvard defense, however, taking seven shots in the half. Crimson freshman goalie Bethany Kanten made three saves in the second half.
Flugstad-Clarke took a shot in the 63rd minute of action that forced Kanten to come out of the net to make a save. Brush attempted another shot on goal minutes later that Kanten also blocked.
Harvard's offense similarly kept seeking a go-ahead goal, taking nine shots in the second half.
With the game seemingly headed to overtime, the Big Green intensified its pressure in the final minutes of regulation, trying to prove itself against the heavily-favored opponent. Brush, Libby Hamlin '13 and Tasha Wilkins '15 all fired shots in the final minutes, with one attempt saved and the other two blocked by the Harvard defense.
In the last 10 seconds of the game, Johnson nailed a free kick from 20 yards outside the box to seal the win and secure Harvard's place as League leader.
The Big Green hosts Cornell University in its final game of the season on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Dartmouth will also honor its graduating seniors with a ceremony after the game.
Last season, Dartmouth proved its offensive prowess against the Big Red, outshooting Cornell by a large margin in a shutout win. The Big Green finished second in the League with the victory.
Dartmouth now sits in seventh place in the conference. The team will seek to end its season on a positive note by winning its second League game of the season against last-place Cornell (2-12-1, 0-5-0 Ivy).
Members of the Dartmouth women's soccer team did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
