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Harvard Edges Dartmouth to Open Women's Lacrosse Tournament
Portions courtesy of Harvard Athletics Communications
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Postgame Press Conferences: Harvard | Dartmouth
PHILADELPHIA -- Harvard avenged a loss to Dartmouth just seven days earlier with a stunning 11-10 victory in the first semifinal of the 2011 Ivy League Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Franklin Field.
Unlike the game a week ago when Dartmouth doubled up Harvard 14-7 in Hanover, N.H., the Crimson was on the offensive in this match scoring seven goals in the second half alone. Sophomore attack Jennifer VanderMeulen led the way for the Crimson with three goals, her last an unassisted shot that hit the back of the net just under three minutes remaining. The goal put Harvard up two, 11-9, as the clock was winding down.
Dartmouth senior attack Greta Meyer responded with her fourth goal of the game just 31 seconds later to bring the Big Green within a goal but that would be the game's final score.
The win snaps the Big Green's 18-game win streak over the Crimson. It was Harvard's first win over Dartmouth since 1994.
Behind VanderMeulen stellar performance, Danielle Tetreault scored two goals, both free position goals, including the game-winner for the Crimson. Melanie Baskind, Chelsey Newman and Tyler Petropulos also had two goals each. Baskind won four draws and collected two ground balls.
Newman scored the first goal of the 2011 Ivy League Lacrosse Tournament, but Dartmouth used a 3-0 run to take a 3-1 lead midway through the first half. The Crimson used goals from Petropulos and Tetreault to even the score with just over 15 minutes left in the first session. VanderMeulen extended her scoring streak to 30 games with a tally to make it 5-4 at the end of the half.
Dartmouth pulled away early in the second stanza to take a 7-4 lead 26 minutes left to play. Harvard slowly climbed back into the game pulling to within 7-5, then against at 8-6, 13 minutes into the second session. Baskind's goal to pull the Crimson was the first of three straight scores that tied the game at 8 with 11:56 remaining on the clock. The Big Green responded with a goal from Greta Meyer to regain the lead. Baskind scored the equalizer one minute and 30 seconds later and after another one minute and 30 seconds Tetreault found the back of the net to give the Crimson its first lead since 1-0. Harvard won the next draw and VanderMeulen scored an insurance goal.
Kerry Clark made eight saves in the net for the Crimson.
Harvard will play Princeton Sunday, May 8 at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.
