Harvard-vs-Dartmouth Delivers
Harvard-vs-Dartmouth Delivers
In the big Clash of the Titans in NIRA, undefeated Harvard edged Dartmouth 36-33, scoring in the late moments to take the victory.
Harvard struck early as freshman Gemma Ogoke powered through two Dartmouth defenders with a stiff arm. Maya Hilger capped off a movement to score Harvard’s second, and with the Skylar Jordan conversion Harvard led 12-0.
Soon it was 17-0 and the Crimson seemed to be in control after 20 minutes.
Not so fast.
Another sparkling freshman, Marley Larkin, raced over for the Big Green, and that was followed up with a try from Katelyn Walker. Annie Hnrich converted both, and just a few moments later Walker set up Arielle Fotso. Henrich was good on the kick once more and Dartmouth went into the halftime break up 21-17 after being down 17-0.
"We know we're fit, we know we're fast,” said Dartmouth Head Coach Katie Dowty. “We wanted to work early to push the tempo, get our positions to where we need to be. Instead, it was ‘do we have the grit and the resilience and the calm when we've dug ourselves into a hole like that to play out of it and then continue to score points?’”
Dartmouth kept it up with Paola Arredondo Almeida speeding in for a try and, with Henrich’s fourth straight conversion, a 28-17 advantage for the Big Green.
Harvard knows something about being resilient, too, however, and responded. Ogoke broke through for her second, and while Dartmouth answered with Walker’s second, the Crimson seemed to gain some momentum.
The always threatening Lennox London dove in at the corner to put her side within a score at 33-29.
That set up the final play. With the clock in the red, Harvard had the ball and one more chance. Tiahna Padilla sliced through and looked to be gone for the game-winner. She was tackled, however, only to see freshman Sophie Hayes working hard to be there in support. Offload, try, and a victory.
It was a game of comebacks, and perhaps a preview of a championship match that promises much.
In NIRA DI, the other big game was Army against Brown, where the Black Knights hammered the Bears 60-0. Cassidy Ball scored four tries for Army while Chloe De Leon added two in an impressive showing by West Point.
"I'm incredibly proud of how this team bounced back after last week's tough result,” said Army Head Coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton. “It was a really hard training week, and I have to give full credit to the team in how they showed up every single day, put their heads down and did the work. We accomplished every objective we set out to achieve today.”
Navy beat Princeton 78-5 in a game that doesn’t count in the standings because Princeton is pursuing a 7s postseason. Catherine O’Hara scored the first and last try for Navy and was the only player to score more than one try, as the Midshipmen had 11 different try-scorers (and six conversion kickers).
With this week’s results, Harvard almost certainly moves into 1st as they improve to 4-0 in standings-relevant results, while Dartmouth drops to 4-1. (Remember, this is a power rankings standings, so more than just straight won-loss record is taken into account, but things like strength of schedule will help Harvard, too.)
Will Army move past Sacred Heart into 4th? Hard to tell as this was a comprehensive win over a winless Brown.
All of that should be decided next week with Army at SHU being the marquee match. Both Harvard and Dartmouth are idle next week. In 3rd right now, Lindenwood, sadly had their game against Davenport called off; The Lions play Queens October 4, but their big game will be against Dartmouth a week later.
