A late comeback came up one goal short for the women’s lacrosse team on Tuesday.
The Wildcats led through the first half, but Dartmouth came out firing in the second half and scored seven second half goals. The ‘Cats made the game interesting late, but they couldn’t erase the deficit and dropped the tilt against the cross-state rivals by a score of 11-10.
“Dartmouth started pulling away as we let some of our fundamentals get away from us,” head coach Sarah Albrecht said. “We need to stay disciplined with our fundamentals and be able to apply them throughout the game.”
UNH got off to a good start, scoring first for the third straight game off of a Marissa Gurello shot, and teammate Krissy Schafer beat Big Green goaltender Charlotte Wahle to make it 2-0. Dartmouth pulled back within one point shortly after when Kiarra Sweeney’s shot found the back of the UNH net.
The first half would end with UNH maintaining a one-goal lead. Carly Wooters tallied two goals in the first half, but UNH couldn’t capitalize and Dartmouth only trailed 5-4 when the first half of regulation ended. Wooters has scored in each of UNH’s three games this season, and Albrecht believes Wooters is just heating up as a sophomore.
“She has been able to step it up on the offensive end with being more familiar with the game,” Albrecht said. “I see room for continued growth which is a very exciting thing for both Carly and for the team.”
Wooters made it a hat trick in the early minutes of the second half, but Dartmouth responded quickly. The Big Green’s Taryn Deck tallied two goals, beating Wildcat goaltender Kate Clancy and tying the game 6-6.
Laura McHoul broke the tie at 6:10 in the second half, but Dartmouth again responded, this time with a vengeance. The Big Green tallied four goals, one of which came with UNH down a player. Halfway through the second half it was 10-7 Big Green.
Gurello scored again to make it 10-8, but Dartmouth’s Sophie Davidson netted the 11th, and ultimately game-winning, goal of the game for the Big Green. UNH managed two more scores, one each from McHoul and Wooters, but it proved too little, too late.
The loss drops UNH to 1-2 on the season, but the Wildcats are already gearing up for another regional matchup, this time against the University of Connecticut Huskies. Albrecht stressed that her team’s fundamentals and consistency need to improve for the ‘Cats to get off to a good start to the young season.
“We have let these last couple of games get away from us because of our lack of consistency,” Albrecht said. Despite two straight losses, the head coach remains optimistic about her team.
“I believe in this team and their ability to fight to get better each day especially with our fundamentals,” she said.
The matchup with the 2-0 Huskies will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with UNH hosting.