Big Green Suffer Slim 2-1 Loss vs. Princeton

Saturday, October 21

Hanover, N.H.

11:00 AM

Dartmouth College

(5-8, 1-5Ivy League)

Princeton

(6-8, 4-2Ivy League)

Princeton

Dartmouth

Photo by: Justin Lafleur

10/21/2023 6:30:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

The Big Green outshot the Tigers 8-1 in the fourth quarter, where they scored their first goal against Princeton since 2015

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — Facing a top 20 RPI team, the Dartmouth field hockey team scored with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within one, then despite a number of chances down the stretch, the Big Green couldn't pull even as they fell to visiting Princeton, 2-1 on a rainy Saturday. Despite the loss, a number of strong signs of growth were shown, with the goal being Dartmouth's first against Princeton since 2015. The final shot count was 13-13, as the Big Green fired as many shots on Saturday against the Tigers as the previous four meetings combined.

With the win, Princeton improves to 6-8 and 4-2 in the Ivy League. The Big Green fall to 5-8 and 1-5.

"I thought we did a wonderful job of executing our game plan," said Dartmouth head coach Mark Egner. "We played to our strengths and shut down what we thought would be some of the real dangerous aspects of Princeton. Princeton is a very, very good team. From an RPI perspective, they're still in the top 20 in the country and that's something we take seriously. We knew that we'd get opportunities and we knew this was a game we could put ourselves in.

"I think that says a lot about the growth and trajectory our program is on."

Trailing 2-0 heading to the fourth quarter, the Big Green wouldn't go down without a fight. They went on to outshoot Princeton 8-1 in the fourth, with the second shot finding the back of the net. Just under four minutes into the stanza, Dartmouth created its second straight penalty corner. Fifth year Meg Barnes fired towards goal, with freshman Lucia Campaño making the redirection past Princeton goalkeeper Robyn Thompson to pull the Big Green within 2-1. It marked Campaño's fourth straight game with a goal and sixth this season.

Lucia Campaño scored her sixth goal of the season in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to one and give the Big Green their first goal against Princeton since 2015. Campaño has now scored a goal in four straight games!#GoBigGreen. pic.twitter.com/SAaNb4F6zl
— DartmouthFieldHockey (@DartmouthFH) October 21, 2023

Dartmouth went on to fire six more shots, including three in the span of seven seconds in the final two minutes of the fourth, as the Big Green were charging hard off a penalty corner. Thompson came up with all the stops, though, to help Princeton wrap up the victory.

Early on, the Tigers converted their first penalty corner of the game into a goal at the 9:15 mark, as Ottilie Sykes snuck it past Dartmouth goalkeeper Ava Carlson.

A scoreless and even second period saw the Big Green hold a slim 3-2 edge in shots, but no goals were scored by either side.

Princeton controlled possession in the third, holding a 7-0 advantage in shots. The Tigers doubled their lead just 1:55 into the third quarter as Carlson made an initial save off a penalty corner then sophomore Olivia Galiotos made a defensive save on a Merle Broex follow-up attempt. However, the ball came right back to Broex, who wouldn't be denied on her second attempt and Princeton's third attempt of the sequence.

Later in the quarter, Dartmouth posted another defensive save as Lily Webb had what looked to be a sure goal, but junior Helen Young batted the ball out of midair and out of harm's way to keep the Big Green within two heading to the fourth, where Dartmouth's comeback attempt fell just short.

Check out this fantastic defensive save by Helen Young today to keep the deficit at two!#GoBigGreen | #NFHCAPlay pic.twitter.com/t6Hhsm9lCc
— DartmouthFieldHockey (@DartmouthFH) October 21, 2023

"[Before the fourth], we just got together and said we needed to push for one last quarter and we did that," said Young. "We got a goal in our corner, which was awesome. And then we kept them there. It was very calm. In the backfield, we were all talking; it never felt frantic. I think that helped us keep the ball up the field and get more shots."

Final shots were even at 13 while after a 5-0 edge in the fourth quarter, the Big Green finished with a 9-6 advantage in penalty corners. Carlson made six saves for Dartmouth across Thompson, who finished with four for the Tigers.

"I just talked to the team about how 12 months ago, we lost 1-0 and we celebrated that moment like it was the national championship," said Egner. "We were pumped. To be in the situation we were in today, to be fighting it out, pushing, almost taking it into overtime, it's a sign of real real progress and a real sign of the journey that this program is going on and something we can all be proud of."

The Big Green return to the field on Sunday when they travel to UMass to face the Minutewomen. Gametime is 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

After today's loss against Princeton, we caught up with Helen Young who had a big third quarter defensive save to keep the Big Green within striking distance.#GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/9f5Vt3XBdm
— DartmouthFieldHockey (@DartmouthFH) October 21, 2023

We caught up with head coach Mark Egner following today's 2-1 loss vs. Princeton.#GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/ZxKrsjr863
— DartmouthFieldHockey (@DartmouthFH) October 21, 2023