Big Green Suffer Tight Loss to No. 13 Penn in Ivy Opener

Saturday, March 23

Hanover, N.H.

12:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Penn

Photo by: McKenzie Yi

Big Green Suffer Tight Loss to No. 13 Penn in Ivy Opener

3/23/2024 5:14:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score ESPN+ Highlights

Dartmouth began the second quarter with three man-up goals in the first 53 seconds

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — Playing on a very snowy Saturday in Hanover, No. 13 Penn began the second half with five straight goals to break open a 6-6 tie, on the way to defeating the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team, 11-8. A balanced effort saw eight different Big Green goal scorers, with no player posting more than two points.

With its win, Penn improves to 6-3 and 2-0 in the Ivy League. Dartmouth suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season and fell to 3-5 and 0-1 in the league.

"Tremendous thanks and credit to our grounds crew and facilities crew at Dartmouth to handle these elements and create a playable surface," said Big Green head coach Sean Kirwan. "We're so thankful to have the best team in the nation when it comes to that.

"When you grow up as a kid, playing snow lacrosse is something that is always a blast," Kirwan continued. "As college athletes, to get that opportunity was awesome. It was an Ivy League game; it was a battle. I loved our guys' effort. I thought we showed tremendous grit and toughness throughout the game and we're throwing our fair share of punches. We put ourselves in a great position to win the game and the ball bounced a few extra times towards Penn today."

Five different Big Green players posted two points, with seniors Peter Lapina and Nate Davis, and juniors Colin McGill and Quinn Moore, each tallying a goal and assist. Sophomore Emmett Paradine dished two assists.

"We need everybody," said Kirwan. "We can't rely on one or two guys a game. We need all hands on deck and we felt that today. It was a full team effort."

Defensively, sophomore Thomas Goguen posted a career-high seven groundballs with a career-high tying three caused turnovers. Junior Joe Azelby also tied a career high with three caused turnovers. There were 50 total turnovers in the game amidst the snow, 25 from each side. Dartmouth caused 14 of the Quakers' turnovers.

Penn scored the game's first two goals and three of the first four to take a 3-1 lead late in the first half. Senior Tommy Rogan scored from Paradine at the 3:21 mark to pull the Big Green within 3-2 after one quarter of play.

With 10 seconds left in the first quarter, Penn's PJ McKeigue was whistled for a one-minute non-releasable penalty and the Big Green capitalized. They scored three man-up goals in the opening minute of the second quarter — from sophomore Cameron Brown, fifth-year Mitchell Myers, and Moore — to take their first lead. The score was 5-3 when all was said and done.

Mitchell Myers takes it himself and the Big Green are on top!https://t.co/jmLjOiqdi8 | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/AX7hdYubZM
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) March 23, 2024

The Quakers responded with three consecutive goals before McGill finished a feed from Paradine at 2:41 for a 6-6 halftime score.

Colin McGill with the answer and we're tied up, 6-6!https://t.co/jmLjOiqdi8 | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/4r4FhbR6ai
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) March 23, 2024

It was all Penn in the third quarter and early in the fourth, as the Quakers netted five consecutive goals to take an 11-6 advantage following a Griffin Scane goal with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter.

Dartmouth made one last push behind a Henry Bonnie goal at 5:28, then Davis man-up score 50 minutes later. But the Big Green couldn't get any closer as the Quakers held on, 11-8.

Back-to-back goals, including this one by Nate Davis, and we're back within threehttps://t.co/jmLjOiqdi8 | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/KCrgCxq4Tu
— Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse (@DartmouthMLax) March 23, 2024

For the game, Penn finished with a 32-30 edge in shots and 50-37 advantage in groundballs. Myers was 11-of-20 facing off with six groundballs. Dartmouth was 23-of-27 clearing against a Quakers' ride that was fifth nationally (in lowest opponent clearing percentage) entering the day. Penn was 19-of-24 on the clear. The Big Green were 4-for-4 on the extra man, their most man-up goals since Mar. 19, 2022 against St. John's when they were also 4-for-4.

"Our riding and clearing game was fantastic," said Kirwan. "That's a really good team in Penn and Coach Murphy and how they prepare their guys in the middle of the field and I thought our guys were step-for-step with them in that realm.

"Very proud of the overall team effort and togetherness," Kirwan continued. "We're excited to get back to work here as we enter into game two of the Ivy slate."

The Big Green return to action next Saturday at No. 14 Princeton. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m.