College Crosse 2017 Dissections: #67 Dartmouth Big Green

As the offseason continues, we’ll take a look back at the 2017 season for each individual team in our 2017 dissections. The individual team dissections will go in reverse order of my final Power Rankings from the end of the season. If you missed any of our team or conference recaps, you can check them out here.

Our next team up are the Dartmouth Big Green!

Dartmouth Big Green

Conference: Ivy League
2017 Record: 2-11 (0-6 in Ivy League play)
Head coach: Brendan Callahan (4th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Richie Loftus & Ben Martin (21)
Assists: Richie Loftus (14)
Points: Richie Loftus (35)
Face-offs: Tucker Brown (66-of-176; 37.5%)
Ground balls: George Christopher (63)
Caused turnovers: Timmy Burke (17)
Goals against average: George Christopher (12.39 GAA)
Save percentage: George Christopher (50.5%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: Wiley Osborne (8G, 12A), Timmy Burke (17CTs, 57GBs)
Senior scoring departing: 24 of 141 (17%)
Senior starts lost: 28 of 130 (21.5%)

Season Summary

Ever since 2009, the Big Green have finished below .500 in each of the last nine seasons. They started winning four or five games for a couple of seasons, but the past two campaigns under Brendan Callahan have been brutal.

After edging Michigan in 2016 for their lone win, Dartmouth earned wins over Vermont and UMass Lowell in 2017, but they haven’t won an Ivy League game since beating Harvard in overtime back in 2015.

The biggest storyline involving the team came before the start of the season, when Callahan cut seven players and had three others quit. During their home opener against Sacred Heart, about two dozen fans, some of them former lacrosse players, verbally heckled the head coach and held a sign that said “We Want Towers”, which was a reference to former head coach Andy Towers.

But compared to last year, their performance on the field was about the same, even with the extra win. They went 1-5 in games decided by five goals or less in 2016, but went 1-4 in the same category last year. Their offense only scored over 10 goals twice, where occurred during both of their wins. Richie Loftus and Ben Martin return on offense, but the loss of Wiley Osborne may affect their scoring.

What’s Ahead?

With Callahan cutting many players before the season, the Big Green only lose four seniors. Osborne and defenseman Timmy Burke are the two notable losses, so unless another massive cut happens, Dartmouth should have plenty of familiar personnel back.

The question is how will the players respond with Callahan after a rocky season? Is there any divide amongst the team and the coaching staff? Has Callahan gotten everyone to buy into the Big Green?

This team is also very young, with only six seniors on this year’s roster. Maybe Callahan’s actions made the younger players take note and try to work as hard as possible. Martin tied the team high in goals with 21 last year, while midfielder Harlan Smart finished fifth on the team in points with 13. And let’s not forget goalie George Christopher played in all 13 games last season, starting in 12.

Dartmouth has some players coming from recognized high schools, such as IMG Academy (George Prince), and Chaminade (Kellen Paradine).

Below are who the Big Green will be adding next year.