After last week’s loss against Brown, the Red was no longer in the race to clinch a spot for the Ivy League Tournament. Instead, the Red fought for a win in its final game of the season.
The Red (5-7-4, 2-5 Ivy) entered the contest facing obstacles from the beginning. Dartmouth (9-3-4, 4-1 Ivy), fighting for the second seed in the tournament, was determined to win its last regular season game. Head coach Rob Ferguson knew that this was not going to be an easy match.
“Their back four is really good,” Ferguson said. “It’s really well organized. They’ve obviously got a really special freshman center back playing there who’s just come back from the U.S. National Team Camp.”
Dartmouth had the best defense in the Ivy League going into the game, having conceded only eight goals in 15 matches.
Despite these challenges, it did not seem to faze this Cornell team that created plenty of opportunities in the first half. Although both teams had the similar offensive statistics in the first 45 minutes, Cornell possessed the ball in Dartmouth’s half for a significant period.
The Red’s midfield did well only allowing Dartmouth possession through counterattacks, which were quickly shut down by senior defenders Izzy Scott and Gaby Gonzalez.
Cornell had limited the number of turnovers, stopping any dangerous plays from Dartmouth.
Unfortunately, a soccer game doesn’t end after 45 minutes. Entering the second half, the Big Green came out of the locker room rejuvenated.
Dartmouth immediately played with a high press, being much more possessive in Cornell’s half this time. In the 59th minute, Dartmouth finally broke through and found the back of the net. Just over a minute and a half later, Dartmouth doubled its lead to make it 2-0.
Cornell struck back after a goal by junior midfielder Emily Gibbons in the 79th minute, but it was not enough to come back against the Big Green. Dartmouth was a different team in the second half leading Cornell in shots (10-4) and corners (4-0).
Despite the loss, coach Ferguson believed that the Red still put up a good fight. The Red demonstrated its ability to be aggressive even in situations against teams that have shown to be formidable opponents, according to Ferguson.
“There are positives to be taken there, if you’re willing to find them. We certainly didn’t get outplayed,” said Ferguson. “The team showed a lot of character and a great attitude … so a lot to be excited about.”
The Red may not have been able to secure the last spot in the Ivy League tournament, but it is clearly a team that has fought its way through the season breaking records and beating teams that it has struggled against for quite some time.
Ferguson and his squad will have plenty to build on heading into next season and beyond.
