Quakers drop Ivy opener to Dartmouth

Penn didn't score until 72ndPenn didn't score until 72ndminute, when Stevens brokePenn didn't score until 72ndminute, when Stevens brokeup the Big Green's shutout Coach always knows best. Penn women's soccer coach Patrick Baker knew it wouldn't be a pleasant day for his team at Dartmouth if the Quakers didn't dominate the Big Green early in the game, and his prediction was correct. Penn, which went to Hanover, N.H., with a record of 1-2, was dominated by Dartmouth, 5-1. Although Penn (1-3, 0-1 Ivy League) got off to a somewhat sloppy, panicked start, the Quakers were able to hold off Dartmouth until one of the Big Green's most effective offensive players, speedy Melissa McBean, scored the first goal of the game with a half-volley shot midway through the first half. Just a little over a minute later, Dartmouth's top scorer, Jenna Kurowski, put the ball in the net for her third score of the season. Something was clearly going wrong with Baker's strategy for his team to break through the Big Green's defense and score early, while at the same time keeping the ball out of Penn's net. "We didn't execute our game plan," Quakers senior defender Jill Brown said. Penn got off to a more promising start after half time, as Penn sophomore Tina Cooper, assisted by sophomore Kelly Stevens, scored Penn's only goal of the day in the 72nd minute. Dartmouth senior midfielder Kate Andrews did not play against Penn last year due to injury, and Baker was accurate in predicting that she would greatly strengthen the Big Green's attack. Andrews was able to put away a penalty kick, making the score 3-1 in favor of Dartmouth. The kick came with just over five minutes remaining into the second half when Penn senior defender Heather Herson was given a red card for taking down her opponent in the penalty box. Freshman Jessica Post got her left foot on the ball and put the Big Green's fourth goal in the right corner of the net with a few minutes later. To prepare for next week's game against Bucknell, Penn will most likely focus on individual defending. "We have to go back to the basics and reorganize," Brown said. The Quakers will just have to wait to hear Baker's next strategy for victory.