Dartmouth Bests Brown, 8-5, in Defensive Battle

Photo courtesy of: John and Matt Risley
JTRSPORTS.NET

HANOVER, New Hampshire – In a game that could only be characterized as a defensive battle, the Dartmouth women’s rugby team defeated Brown, 8-5, Saturday afternoon at Brophy Field. 

 

The Big Green (2-1, 2-0 Ivy) benefited from a penalty kick in the first half and a try in the second half by senior Tatjana Toeldte, who accounted for all of the home team’s points.

A late try by the Bears’ Uzoamaka Okoro in the 71st minute made it a three-point game, but Dartmouth was able to hold off another scoring threat in the final minutes to improve to 2-0 in Ivy play this season. The loss was the first by Brown (3-1, 2-1 Ivy) in 15s against an Ancient Eight opponent in two years.

“We knew this was going to be an 80-minute barn-burner,” head coach Katie Dowty said afterward. “We were able to do all of the things that we focused on in training well enough, as well as neutralize the areas where we thought Brown was strong and could potentially hurt us.”

“I’m so proud of this team and what they came out here and did today,” Dowty added. “They worked hard all game and were rewarded for their efforts.”

The story of the game was Dartmouth’s massive advantage in terms of possession, controlling the ball for what seemed like the entirety of the contest. However, when the Green and White had the ball close to the tryline and poised to score the visitors from Providence had an answer with outstanding defensive efforts, a trend that was a constant all afternoon.

Were it not for those numerous stops right at the doorstep by the Bears, the Big Green would have walked away from Saturday’s tilt with a far more lopsided score in their favor.

“We dominated possession, but we just couldn’t convert that possession into points. That’s something we have to focus on moving forward,” Dowty added.

In contrast to the rest of the game, Dartmouth was able to make a defensive stand of its own in the late goings as the home team kept a resurgent Brown team from picking up points in final minute to earn the Ivy victory.

The Big Green return to action next Saturday, October 10, when they play host to Princeton at 10 a.m. as part of Homecoming festivities.