Lights flooded across the pristine Dartmouth pitch. The
monstrous Fox Soccer Channel cameras whirred on, tracking the boys as they
jogged out to take their places for a match that has consistently been one of
the greatest Ivy League battles each year. As Dartmouth huddled together across
the field, their green-and-white-hooped jerseys blinding cameramen everywhere,
the Bears formed a black, 11-man knot in preparation for the match that lay
before them at the end of the season.
The whistle blew, and both sides sprung into action on the
slick surface. Although play seemed to remain mostly in the center of the
pitch, the energy emitted from both sides was exhilarating, as sliding
challenges and monstrous aerial battles dominated the narrative of the game.
Urged on by the hordes of grunting frat-boy fans, The Big Green seemed to gain
the upper hand in the first quarter of play, putting in several nerve-racking
crosses and forcing knuckle punches from the veteran keeper Schloss.
Then, finally at around the 18th minute the Bears
put on one of their first real offensive surges, combining well and finding Big
Ben in space for a blast just over the bar. Moments later, Tmac danced his way
up the left side of the pitch, and forced his defender into a lunging poke for
a Brown corner. Tmac took it magnificently, sending in a long, arcing ball just
outside the penalty spot, which met the golden, unmarked dome of Erob and
rocketed home. GOAL, GOAL, GOOOAAAAAAALLLL!
 |
| "Que Honda Hue?" |
It was a vital goal on the road for the Bears, as the
momentum on the field shifted and the Bears created several more opportunities
from the flanks. However, as the game opened up, the Bears found themselves
with a familiar problem, namely how to complete a final pass in the offensive
third of the field. Over-hit balls slipped out across the end line and hospital
passes were intercepted, as Dartmouth began to realize their best attacking
option: the counter.
Sure enough, as the half wound to a close, the Big Green did
just this, picking up a “hit-it-with-your-purse” pass, the ball was threaded
easily through a sparse, recovering Brown defense, once, twice, and finally
onto the foot of a Big Green forward who – given far too much space – turned,
and simply slotted the ball into the back corner of the Bears’ net in the final
minutes of the half to level the score,
1-1.
---
As the Bears jogged back out across the Big Green’s big,
green, they seemed ready; alert and energetic as they sprinted on the sideline,
frothing at the bit for another half to prove their mettle. However, as the 2nd
half began, and Dartmouth pressed forward, forcing two corners and a
heart-stopping goal-line clearance from the Brown defense, it was clear that
the Bears had their work cut out for them. Dartmouth continued to pressure,
flinging themselves into crunching tackles, frightening the Bears out of
confident possession, and showing that their final game of the season would be
a fight to the death as cautionary yellows flew.
After a considerable amount of mediocre marking and passing
from the Bears, thankfully the tides shifted, as we surged up the wings once
more, with hard work from Gavey, Dyl and Big Ben, to earn us a series of
corners, and some brilliantly dangerous balls in from Tmac as Dartmouth
barricaded themselves Chelsea-style into their box to wait out the onslaught.
Perhaps the ref felt bad for the Big Green (especially after
one Dartmouth player blasted his own teammate in the nether-regions and Bizzle
almost scored!), or perhaps he had confused his duties on the field with his
part time babysitting job, but whatever the reason, remarkably soft fouls
continued to be called against the Bears, well Dartmouth seemed to get away
with, well, murder. Nonetheless we defended well against this succession of unjust
free kicks, and continued to push forward, with strong strikes for D.T. and Dyl
pushed wide, as once again, the game was headed to overtime…
----
“No D, O.T.” seemed a fitting title for extra time, as both
teams sacrificed numbers in the back for some exciting offensive opportunities.
After a near P.K. occurred for the Bears with Dyl getting hauled down in the
box, the Big Green countered, striking the ball just wide of the net. This was
followed shortly by a wonderful leading ball from Tmac to Gavey, whose
speculative cross was blocked, and countered by the Big Green as they blasted
the ball just wide of the Bears’ goal.
This pattern continued as shots came for Big Ben, Tmac and
Gavey, only to be denied by some strong play from the Dartmouth keeper. Meanwhile,
Schloss had his own work cut out for him as he made a couple of vital saves
from the hard-hitting Dartmouth forwards. But then, disaster struck.
It was the final seconds of the game, and the ball was
pin-balling its way through the Bears’ box. Bodies flew, legs were kicked,
shots were blocked, and somehow the ball remained, confined in this rectangle,
forcing the fans to their feet. The lackadaisical announcer began his countdown
a good second behind the scoreboard’s
5…. The ball ricocheted of another Brown body back to a
Dartmouth cleat.
4…. Another shot, another save.
3…. A clearance is muffed by someone clad in Black.
2…. The ball appears is nicked up in the air,
1…. It’s brought down
by a Dartmouth player
0…. And rocketed into the net, a good half second after the
game’s end.
The Drunken masses cheered, the Big Green roared, the Bears
begged, and the ref – too frightened by all the loud noise – tried to sneak
quietly away, unwilling to challenge the home side’s victory. It was a
questionable, unfair, and devastating loss for the Bears, as they walked off
the field to make their way home. I for one would love to find the footage from
FSC of those final seconds and send a gentle letter of constructive criticism
to the officials.
And so the regular season came to an abrupt and ugly halt.
Though the Bears hung their heads, they still left that pitch knowing that more
games lay in store, as they awaited the NCAA tourney draw… Shoutout to Dyl,
Tmac, McDuff, Erob, Big Ben, and Schloss for their Ivy League Honors.
Up next… the first round of the NCAA tourny against.... Drexel!
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