March 20, 2008
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - At 4-3 for the season, No. 14 Yale finds itself in a familiar position. Last year's team started with the same record before it reeled off nine straight wins, earning an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. This year's edition of the Bulldogs looks to start a similar streak, and the first major test comes Saturday at No. 17 Dartmouth (Noon, Pay-per-view video on Dartmouth website, Live stats on Dartmouth website).
Even while losing two in a row, the Bulldogs have shown flashes of potential. They were tied with No. 8 Penn at halftime before going scoreless in the second half and losing 10-4. They had runs of 3-1 and 3-0 Wednesday at No. 15 BU, but ultimately could not overcome an early 5-1 deficit. For the season, Yale has outscored its opponents 29-23 in the second half but has been outscored 33-29 in the first half.
Senior midfielder Kat Peetz (Spring Lake, N.J.) has 10 goals in the last four games and a team-high 14 for the year. She is the only Bulldog to have scored in all seven games. Senior attacker Meredith Callahan (Chatham, N.J.) leads the team in assists with 10 and has also proven efficient at scoring, totaling seven goals on just 12 shots.
Last year's nine-game run was keyed by a defense that allowed only 7.47 goals per game during the streak. The Bulldogs are seeking to establish that same sort of consistency this year. Wednesday marked the second straight time the defense allowed double-digit goals in a game, something that had not happened in two years. Yale entered the week 10th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 7.67 goals per game.
Dartmouth (3-2, 0-0 Ivy) has suffered both of its losses against teams currently in the top 10, including an 18-5 loss to No. 6 Syracuse and a 17-8 loss to No. 3 Maryland. The Big Green's three wins have all come against teams that Yale has played also: 9-8 over James Madison in double overtime, 14-10 over New Hampshire and 9-8 over UMass. The Bulldogs are 2-1 against those common opponents.
The Big Green features 2007 All-Region attacker Kristen Barry, who leads the team in points (11-4-15). She has also grabbed 11 draw controls, second only to midfielder Greta Meyer (15) in that category. Dartmouth's opponents have a 70-47 edge on draws this year.
Julie Wadland has seen 214:29 in goal, posting a .431 save percentage and an 11.47 goals-against average. Wadland had eight saves against Yale last year, but the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed 10-8 by outshooting Dartmouth 23-16, winning the ground ball battle 18-14 and claiming 13 of 20 draw controls. Senior midfielder Lauren Taylor (Manhasset, N.Y.) had three goals, including the game-winner with 6:24 left.
The game will be played at Dartmouth's Memorial Field, the football stadium, because Scully-Fahey Field is being remodeled.