HANOVER, N.H. – Brown scored two first-half goals, which stood to be the difference as the Bears beat the Dartmouth field hockey team, 2-0 on Saturday at Chase Field. Defense was the story of the day, as the game saw just 17 combined shots and only eight on goal. The Big Green defense held Brown to its fewest shots on goal of the season (4), tied for the fewest goals (2) and tied for the fewest shots (9), but it wasn't enough for Dartmouth to pick up their fourth straight home victory.
"We had some phases of possession that were quite nice, and opportunities – knocking on the door – but ultimately, today was a day of should've, would've, could've and I think everyone is tired of those days," said Dartmouth head coach
Mark Egner. "Credit to Brown; they converted on their opportunities and were clinical in the circle. They did everything that we said they would. We just have to come back stronger tomorrow [at UNH]."
Lexi Pellegrino got Brown on the board at 4:56. Her initial shot was blocked off a penalty corner, but the ball found its way to Lucy Adams. Adams made a feed back to Pellegrino, who wouldn't be denied.
It looked like Dartmouth would pull even late in the quarter, but consecutive shots –from
Bronwyn Bird and
Holley Cromwell – were denied by Brown goalkeeper Jodie Brine.
The Bears doubled their lead just before halftime, at the 27:03 mark, as Adams made a move in the circle and fired the ball towards the cage. It got past Dartmouth goalkeeper
Hatley Post and deflected off a defender's stick, who was looking to clear the ball out of harm's way, into the back of the goal to give Brown a 2-0 advantage.
Dartmouth's best second-half chance came behind a hard shot from
Meg Barnes midway through the third quarter. Post made her first save in the fourth quarter, a strong stop off a corner, and added another to finish with two saves on the afternoon. Brine tallied four for the Bears.
Final shots were 9-8 in favor of Brown while the Bears held a 7-3 edge in penalty corners.
Dartmouth returns to action on Sunday as the Big Green travel to UNH to face the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on AmericaEast.TV.