M. Lax loses in a heartbreaker

Quakers fall to Big Green in OT Dartmouth midfielder John Whelen's shot seemed to come out of nowhere. Moving slowly, the ball bounced off Penn goaltender Travis Heinrichs, then trickled past him. With 1 minute, 16 seconds remaining in overtime, the ball finally settled in the back of the net, and the Penn men's lacrosse team had lost another heartbreaker, 17-16 at Franklin Field. Now Penn (4-6, 0-5 Ivy League) is left looking for answers. The Quakers played one of their best games of the season, but they were unable to hold on in the extra period. The problems, however, started earlier. Though Dartmouth was slowed somewhat, Penn could not stop the Big Green rush. "We were up and we didn't close it out so they couldn't come back," attacker Andy Crofton said. "When you get up a couple goals, you want to make that lead five or six, so the other team can't come back into the game. We didn't do that today. We let them back in it, and when you do that, you're taking chances with the end of the game." Penn did not falter in overtime, dominating most of the extra frame. However, the Quakers were unable to convert on their opportunities, including several Big Green turnovers. Having won three previous one-goal games, No. 19 Dartmouth (5-0, 1-0) knew what to do and was successful. As the Penn team knows all too well after Saturday's contest, in sudden-death, one goal is all it takes. "It just got away from us in the overtime," midfielder Brian Napolitano said. "It's tough to play with that kind of pressure. They didn't give up either. It just came down to one shot at the end." The game was close throughout. Every time Penn gained a lead of more than one goal, Dartmouth would swarm back. The Big Green topped the Quakers in shooting, with 53 attempts to Penn's 47. Heinrichs stopped 17 shots in a losing effort. Ned Hazard made 11 saves for Dartmouth. The Penn offense performed well, distributing the ball and the scoring opportunities. Ten Quakers contributed goals. Attacker Ben Conrad led Penn with four goals. Attacker Jon Cusson had three goals and an assist for Penn. Crofton and midfielder Chip Galli had a goal and two assists each. "It was one of our better games," Napolitano said. "Especially in the second half, we played well. We had the opportunities. We just didn't put the ball away. We played hard, with a lot of heart. It just didn't go our way." The game was tied at 16 with 6:47 remaining. The Quakers had finally succeeded in containing the Dartmouth attack, but the Penn offense, which had been able to score nearly at will, was suddenly stymied as well. "It's typical of the game today," Dartmouth coach Tim Nelson said. "We toughed it out. That's our motto, to play hard and tough. We were down basically all game and we hung in there." The Quakers lost to Cornell last weekend in similar fashion. With three seconds remaining, Heinrichs allowed a goal to slip by, giving the Big Red the win. It is these losses that feel the worst, according to the players. "It's tough to lose one like that," Napolitano said. "One in a season is bad enough, but that was two." Penalties cost Penn dearly against Dartmouth, as they had the week before in Ithaca. The Big Green took advantage of Quakers mistakes, scoring two goals in extra-man situations. The Quakers held the edge in ground balls, doubling up the Big Green 46 to 23. However, on faceoffs, Dartmouth had a crucial advantage, winning 12 of 21. "You're leaving it up to fate," Crofton said of Penn's inability to put the Big Green away for good. "A bad bounce or a checked stick could cost you the game." Penn is already looking to the future. New challenges await the Quakers, who face Brown and Syracuse the next two weeks. However, having played defending NCAA champion Princeton, Penn does not fear high-caliber opposition. "We've been disappointed but we can't quit," Penn coach Terry Corcoran said. "It was a tough game and a tough loss. We were playing hard. We made good plays. They just made one more than we did."