Women’s Soccer Looks to End Ivy Skid at Dartmouth

For a women’s soccer program loaded with talent and potential, even two conference losses are glaring. Colulmbia began the season with high aspirations, but repeating as conference champions might not be in the cards for the Light Blue anymore. Instead of thinking about a dynasty, the Lions (6-4-3, 1-2 Ivy) are now focused on evening their record in the Ancient Eight.

Penn and Princeton, the programs that handed Columbia its two Ivy defeats, are the only undefeated teams in the league and are clearly the top contenders for the championship. The schedule will now dictate who emerges victorious, as the two teams will face each other on Nov. 3. The Lions will try to make the race more exciting, but with a conference record of 1-2, they may not be able to make up for their poor start in league play. Columbia is now stuck in fourth place in the conference standings along with Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth.

Perhaps a change of scenery is all the Lions need to stop their current winless skid, which consists of a draw against Marist sandwiched between the losses to Penn and Princeton. They will get the chance to test this theory tomorrow, as they head to New Hampshire to face Dartmouth (3-8-1, 1-2 Ivy).

In order to beat the Big Green, Columbia will need to play at its highest level from beginning to end, something that did not occur against Princeton last Saturday.

“We had a lack of consistency in the first half,” head coach Kevin McCarthy said. “We had an excellent second half and were the better team and we expect to continue that kind of dominating performance in our next match.”

McCarthy believes that a team effort is crucial in order to win tomorrow. “Consistency comes when all performers are playing at their peak levels,” he said. “Everybody has a role to play.”

Although its offense was stifled by Princeton in last Saturday’s 2-0 loss, the Light Blue has a solid core of go-to players in junior Allison Leonard, sophomore Sophie Reiser, and freshman Chrissy Butler. The three have combined for 14 goals this season, five more than Dartmouth’s season total of nine. Only Maggie Goldstein poses a real threat to the Lions; the sophomore has scored four times this year.

An offense as potent as Columbia’s will not remain dormant for much longer, so the Big Green defense must be alert throughout the game. Dartmouth will attempt to limit Columbia’s scoring with Laurel Peak in goal. The junior boasts three shutouts this season, but she allowed two goals in the team’s most recent game, a 2-1 loss to Penn.

Despite the setbacks that have plagued the Light Blue this season, McCarthy continues to preach the same philosophy to his players. At the same time, however, he is aware that the team is under circumstances much different from those of its 2006 campaign.

“Adversity offers the opportunity for the program and the players to reaffirm our commitment to the core values of the program while under some pressure,” McCarthy said.

Although the Lions are not currently a frontrunner for the conference title, the team remains competitive and confident, traits that will make tomorrow’s game an entertaining one.

McCarthy has not given up on Columbia’s season yet.

“Our intention is never merely to compete,” he said. “It is to win.”