Feb. 24, 2007
by Bruce Wood, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
HANOVER, N.H. -- A wind chill struggling to get out of single digits
and a Top-20 opponent might not seem like the ideal way to open the
season, but neither the winning coach nor the losing coach was
complaining after No. 6 Dartmouth outlasted No. 17 Syracuse Saturday
afternoon in front of a smattering of bundled-up fans on Scully-Fahey
Field.
Jen Pittman scored three times and Sarah Szefi add three goals --
including the game winner with 2:38 remaining -- as the 2006 NCAA
runnerup Big Green reversed a one-goal loss at Syracuse in last
year's opener with an 11-10 win.
Freshman Christina Dove had three goals for the Orange, which claimed a narrow 30-29 advantage in shots but won just 9 of 23 draw controls.
"We've got the Dome, but we get outside a lot so we're used to it,"
Syracuse coach Lisa Miller said of the near-arctic conditions. "This
is a good opener for us. Last year it was a one-goal game and now
this. As I get older and my heart starts to slow down a little bit, I
may not feel the same way. But it's a good, healthy fight."
Dartmouth coach Amy Patton saw a half dozen of her charges brave the
conditions bare-legged in their first game since falling to
Northwestern in the title game last spring. "It could have been
worse," Patton said. "I felt like our kids have been mentally
prepared for this because this has been the coldest February I can
remember as far as being out here. We've been out in it and our kids
haven't complained which I think is a real positive thing. It shows
character."
Despite the weather, both offenses came out hot, with the first five
draws all leading to goals and a 3-2 Syracuse lead just five
minutes in. That didn't surprise Miller. "I think that will happen
early in the year. It's because you don't have scouting reports and
you don't know what's expected," she said.
Trailing 9-8 in the second half of the back-and-forth affair,
Dartmouth got consecutive goals from Szefi, Whitney Douthett and
Szefi again to move ahead, 11-9.
With an emphasis on shutting down the Syracuse running game,
Dartmouth held Tewaaraton Watch List member Gaddy Fortune scoreless
and kept preseason All-American Katie Rowan to a single goal until
Rowan made it a one-goal game on a free position tally with 1:43 left.
The Orange managed a 3-on-2 break out of its own with time running
down, but Rowan was stoned by Julie Wadland, a freshman and Devon Wills heir apparent, on a high shot at the doorstep with exactly one minute left to preserve the Dartmouth victory.
"Big time," Patton said of the save. "That just shows
her hand quickness. I mean, she has incredibly quick hands."
Syracuse plays host to Albany Wednesday in its home opener while
Dartmouth will be off until New Hampshire visits March 3.
