PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Brown University (5-2-1) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dartmouth (1-3-3) in an intense Ivy League matchup on Saturday afternoon at Stevenson-Pincince Field. The match featured three goals and multiple momentum shifts before a crowd of 1,247.
Mateo Pereyra opened the scoring for Brown in the 8th minute with a clinical finish from inside the box. The Big Green equalized through an own goal in the 47th minute, before Will Lulka netted what proved to be the winner for Dartmouth in the 71st minute, assisted by Douglas Arveskar.
The first half saw Brown establish early control, with Pereyra's goal setting the tone. The Bears' aggressive pressing led to multiple chances, including dangerous attempts from Mads Stistrup Petersen in the 17th minute and Lorenzo Amaral in the 18th minute. Dartmouth goalkeeper Konstantinos Dellas made crucial saves to keep his team in the match, while the Big Green's defense weathered sustained pressure from the Bears' attack.
The second half began with immediate drama as Dartmouth leveled the score through an own goal. The equalizer energized the Big Green, who began pressing higher up the pitch. The tactical battle intensified around the hour mark, with both teams making strategic substitutions. Brown's defensive unit, anchored by goalkeeper Max Pfaffman, maintained composure under increasing pressure before Lulka's decisive strike.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Brown outshooting Dartmouth 11-6, including a 5-4 advantage in shots on target. The Bears also dominated set pieces, earning seven corner kicks to Dartmouth's two. The physical contest saw four yellow cards issued - three to Brown players (Iyke Dafe, Jamin Gogo Peters, and Lorenzo Amaral) and one to Dartmouth's Hudson Kohler.
Individual performances shaped the outcome significantly. Pfaffman finished with three crucial saves for Brown, while Dellas recorded four stops for Dartmouth. Pereyra's early goal and overall attacking presence proved influential, while Lulka's second-half performance, culminating in his goal, demonstrated Dartmouth's resilience.
Tactically, Brown's high-pressing approach created problems for Dartmouth's build-up play throughout the first half. The Bears' wing play, particularly through Amaral and Pereyra, consistently stretched Dartmouth's defense. The Big Green's second-half adjustments, including the introduction of Douglas Arveskar and Hudson Kohler at halftime, helped balance the match and led to improved attacking sequences.
The victory extends Brown's positive run of form, following their recent draw against Providence and win over UMass Lowell. For Dartmouth, the loss marks their second straight defeat, though their improved second-half performance shows promise for upcoming matches. The Bears' ability to secure three points despite Dartmouth's comeback attempt demonstrates their growing maturity as a team.
Both teams now turn their attention to crucial Ivy League fixtures next weekend. Brown (5-2-1) will travel to face Princeton on October 4th, while Dartmouth (1-3-3) returns home to host Cornell in an evening matchup on the same day. The contrasting fortunes of these programs - Brown's momentum versus Dartmouth's search for consistency - adds intrigue to their respective paths forward in conference play.