For the first time in 20 years, the Dartmouth women’s soccer team left Harvard University’s Jordan Field with a win. With a goal from junior Kate Ryan ’27 in the 75th minute and a strong defensive performance, the Big Green achieved a 1-0 victory against the Crimson in Cambridge, Mass. on Sept. 20. This is the first time the Big Green has beaten Harvard on the road since 2005.
The night’s lone goal started with a corner kick from Sarah Shelburne ’28. Forward Stephanie Lathrop ’28 got a head on Shelburne’s kick and Ryan knocked it in for the score.
“It was fully a team effort goal, which was so awesome,” Ryan said. “It was pretty unreal for my first college goal, definitely.”
Head coach Taylor Schram commended Ryan for her first collegiate goal as well as her contributions on the other end of the pitch.
“It’s been fun to see Kate really step up to the plate,” Schram said. “She’s been a big voice of leadership in our back line.”
Following Ryan’s goal, the stadium erupted.
“The bench was going crazy. Everyone on the field was going crazy,” Ryan said. “Everyone was cheering so loud that some of our alumni who were sitting on the sideline said ‘it seemed like you all had won the Super Bowl.’”
The Crimson outshot the Big Green 13-6 — each team had two shots on goal. The Big Green, however, was the only team to convert a shot into a goal. This was in large part due to a strong defensive effort by goalkeeper Ola Goebel ’27 and Dartmouth’s back line. In only her second career start, Goebel recorded her second clean sheet.
Goebel gave credit to her teammates for the strong defensive performance. She noted that the team did a great job of “trusting and talking with each other,” and that “trust in your back line, your midfielders, your forwards and the bench,” is important as a goalie.
Schram said that the team was prepared to win, adding that the team’s mantra coming into the season was “it’s our time.”
“We’ve used that as our punch line this season to really unify us and get us excited about the season ahead,” Schram said.
Schram has also stressed the importance of believing in their preparation and their ability to win.
“I think that we’re the fittest team in the Ivy League,” Schram said. She emphasized that the team walks into every game “believing that we’re the better team.”
The team was also focused on defending a very strong Harvard squad. Schram said the team emphasized being “really relentless defensively” and Goebel said they avoided “underestimating the opponent.”
Both Ryan and Goebel highlighted the importance of working as a team and supporting each other throughout the game in their victory.
“It was such a team effort to defend and keep them from scoring on us,” Ryan said.
Goebel added that “whether you’re a starter, play one minute or don’t play, every single person has a role.”
One of these crucial roles is providing support to the players from the bench. Goebel highlighted the importance of the energy that the bench provides.
“Our bench is always so loud during every game,” Goebel said. “After every game, our coaches and us always pride ourselves because we ‘out-bench’ them.”
Along with the supporters on the sidelines, the support from the bleachers that were filled with Dartmouth alumni and students was more fuel for the team’s dogged performance on the pitch.
“It felt like a home game for Dartmouth,” Schram said. “It speaks to what this greater Dartmouth community really is.”
After two losses to Santa Clara University and Colgate University and a tie with Hofstra University before this game, a victory was especially important for the team as they begin the Ivy League season.
Goebel said that although the team was tested in the games leading up to the Harvard matchup, this win helped them “find themselves” and “build up the trust” they have in each other.
Ryan also said the team was motivated by the win.
“It was just really encouraging for us as a team, and exciting knowing that we have this fight in us,” she said.
Schram and Goebel echoed these thoughts and said that the chance to break the long-standing drought at The Crimson’s field provided added incentive to win.
“It’s always fun whenever there’s sort of a historic stat line,” Schram said.
Next, the Big Green will face the University of Pennsylvania at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.
As the team continues Ivy League play, Schram said they intend to “use the lessons” from the Harvard game to improve. The team also wants to continue the momentum they have gathered from their first Ivy League win of the season.
“I think we have the talent and the desire and the drive to win and do really well this season,” Ryan said. “I’m excited to see how it goes.”