The women's soccer team continued its losing streak Tuesday with a 1-0 loss to Dartmouth at home. The match marked Bruno's (6-5, 0-3 Ivy) second meeting with and second loss to Dartmouth (8-4, 2-1 Ivy) this season.
Despite being on the road, the Dartmouth squad dominated the match, outshooting Bruno 21-4. Bruno managed only one shot on target, which came in the second minute of play and was easily saved by goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders.
Midfielder Emma Brush scored the winning goal in the 65th minute. The Big Green sent a midfield free kick high into the box, and, after bouncing off a Big Green player, the ball came to Brush who headed it high over goalie MC Barrett '14.
Head Coach Phil Pincince said the goal was one of several quality scoring opportunities for either team. "(The game) was played between the 18 and 18(-yard boxes)," he said. "They get the one service in the box, and game's over."
The Bears, who have not scored a goal in three games, played a hurried and inaccurate passing game Tuesday, time and again attempting unsuccessful long passes toward their strikers. "We haven't really settled into the final third," said Mika Siegelman '14, referring to the Bears' developing attack. "That final pass we're looking for a lot of the time just ends up being forced."
By contrast, the Big Green demonstrated a well-formed strategy of building their attacking plays from the defense up. Their central defenders stayed close to home, and Saunders was ready to boot the ball away whenever a long pass escaped them.
The ball rarely came within striking range of either goal during the first half. The Bears had difficulty connecting the ball from defense to offense, and though Dartmouth dominated possession, they played cautious offense, refraining from bringing many players forward.
The Big Green still managed a few scoring opportunities in the first half. Kelly Brait took a corner kick in the 11th minute that bounced off the crossbar.
In the 38th minute, a quick run on the left by forward Lucielle Kovlov nearly put Dartmouth ahead. She passed just outside the box to Allison Yeager, who sent the ball wide of the post.
Both teams began the second half with the passive play they demonstrated before the break. Dartmouth stayed on its heels with a conservative attack, while the Bears continued to have a hard time connecting their passes.
But the intensity changed after an opening goal by Brush. Finding themselves behind, the Bears pushed forward and put more energy into their attack. But their passing did not improve, and they had no shots on target in the second half.
Instead, Dartmouth found even more opportunities. As the Bears advanced, their defense spread out, leaving them vulnerable in their attempt to find the equalizer. In the 81st minute, midfielder Kim Rose took a long shot which flew off the crossbar. Barrett was forced to make two saves in the last 10 minutes.
Pincince noted a clear difference in the Bears' attacking performance since the start of the season."
In the first six games of the season, we were finding that way to get that goal," he said. "In the last five, we have not."
The Bears will strive for their first conference win of the season this Saturday at home against Harvard.
Captain Eliza Marshall '13 said she hopes the team will keep a positive attitude despite an uninspiring record.
"(The result) will come with time," she said. "We just have to keep our heads up and stay positive."
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