Title Hopes at Stake in Showdown With Dartmouth

Crimson and the Big Green. No, it’s not Christmas, but this Sunday’s game against Dartmouth might give the men’s soccer team what’s at the top of its list: an Ivy League title.

Hoping to claim sole possession of first place in a neck-and-neck race with Penn, Brown and Dartmouth, this matchup is a must-win for Harvard (11-4-0, 4-1-0) if it wants to keep its edge. Currently tied at the top with Penn, the Crimson’s hopes for a title depend on a victory this weekend.

“Everyone understands the importance of the game in terms of our season and what we’re trying to accomplish, but I don’t think any of us are intimidated by the whole thing,” captain Charles Altchek said. “We’ve been in this spot before, going up to Dartmouth, playing them in a game of this magnitude where first place is on the line.”

But last year’s game against Dartmouth did not yield the results Harvard desired. After a scoreless match in which Altchek was knocked unconscious, the Big Green slipped one in during the 90th minute of game, taking a 1-0 victory over the Crimson.

“I definitely remember the feeling I had after the game, you know, knowing our Ivy League hopes were pretty much over at that point,” Altchek said. “For me and for the older guys over there, it’s definitely something that motivates us, and for the younger guys, not that they need any extra motivation, but I think they’re starting to understand what this game means to us and to the team and to the program.”

Adding the pressure of avenging last year’s loss to the already high stakes of a possible Ivy League title, Harvard hopes that it’s found the recipe for success.

“There’s a big rallying around the seniors and the team in general because we’re in a very good spot,” sophomore John Stamatis said. “So if we take care of business, then we’ll be successful.”

Keeping focused will definitely play a part in this high-pressure game. Because Dartmouth is known for its intensity, Harvard must start the game off by matching that level of spirit. Although the Crimson came out a little flat in last week’s first half against Brown, Harvard realizes that every minute counts against the Big Green.

“It’s all about every single member of the team kind of looking into the mirror and deciding whether or not they’re going to be ready for the kickoff.” Altchek said. “We’re just trying to get in the right place as a team...making sure that when the whistle blows on Sunday, we’ll be ready.”

The Crimson’s high-scoring offense, ranked highest in the Ivy League with 38 goals in 15 games, will also face off against Dartmouth’s goal-stopping defense, which has let in only 10 goals in 14 games.

“It’ll kind of be a clash of different styles of play, so it’ll be interesting to say the least,” Altchek said.

In a pairing of such strong offensive and defensive teams, the first goal will have much more importance than it would in other matchups, and so Harvard must win an advantage early in the game.

“[Scoring first] sort of forces them to come out, and they’re going to have to tie it up, or try to,” Stamatis said. “I think that’ll open it up a lot...and give us a little more time to create some chances.”

In a game in which every move counts, the Crimson is feeling the pressure.

“It’s pretty much do-or-die,” Altchek said. “We’ve been saying that all year...That’s helped us get motivated because any slip-up after that game against Penn, we would be having a hard time winning Ivy League. Right now things are still in our hands, and we’d like to keep it that way, so the point is to go there and win.”