HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Harvard defeated Dartmouth 3-1 on Saturday, November 8, breaking open a deadlocked contest after halftime before 1,302 spectators. The Crimson, improving to 6-5-5 overall, controlled the second half with two goals in four minutes to secure the road victory. Dartmouth, now 3-8-3, extended its losing streak to four consecutive matches.
The first half remained scoreless despite Harvard's territorial advantage. The Crimson generated multiple scoring opportunities through Adam Poliakov and Ethan Veghte, but Dartmouth's defense held firm. The Big Green managed limited chances, with Sam Fenton's shot sailing high in the 22nd minute representing their best first-half opportunity. Both teams made multiple substitutions before intermission, with Harvard replacing three players and Dartmouth rotating two.
Olly Spicer gave Dartmouth an unexpected lead in the 45th minute, capitalizing on a low-center opportunity to put the hosts ahead. Harvard responded immediately. Dylan Tellado equalized just three minutes later in the 48th minute, restoring parity and setting the stage for the decisive second-half sequence.
Adam Poliakov broke the tie in the 67th minute with a left-footed finish from close range, assisted by Andreas Savva. The goal energized Harvard's attack. Just four minutes later, Savva doubled the advantage with his own left-footed strike in the 71st minute, with Poliakov returning the assist. The two-goal burst proved decisive, as Dartmouth could not recover despite sustained pressure in the final stages.
Harvard dominated possession metrics throughout. The Crimson recorded 15 shot attempts compared to Dartmouth's seven, while outshooting the Big Green 4-2 on target. Harvard also earned six corner kicks to Dartmouth's two, reflecting their control of the match. Cullen MacNeil made one save for Harvard, while Dartmouth's goalkeeper recorded one save. Olly Spicer received a yellow card for unsporting conduct in the 83rd minute.
Poliakov emerged as Harvard's most dangerous attacking threat, recording multiple attempts throughout the match before breaking through in the second half. His combination with Savva proved too much for Dartmouth's backline to contain. Savva's goal capped an impressive performance from the Harvard attacking unit, which created consistent opportunities after the interval.