Twenty years. That’s how long it’s been since Dartmouth women’s soccer walked off Harvard’s turf with a win. That’s not just a stat, it’s a generational drought. Think about it. The last time the Big Green beat the Crimson on the road, YouTube didn’t exist, Beyoncé hadn’t gone solo, and the iPhone was still a fever dream. So when Kate Ryan ’27 knocked in the game-winner in the 75th minute, it wasn’t just a goal. It was a reckoning.
The match itself? A slow burn. Harvard outshot Dartmouth 13 to 6, but stats don’t always tell the story. The Crimson had possession, sure, but the Big Green had grit. And a goalie named Ola Goebel ’27 who decided that her second career start would also be her second clean sheet. No big deal. Just casually shutting down one of the Ivy League’s most historically dominant programs while the bench screamed like they’d won the Champions League. Spoiler: they kind of did.
Let’s rewind to the goal. It started with a corner kick from Sarah Shelburne ’28. Stephanie Lathrop ’28 got a head on it, and Ryan was there, lurking like a Netflix villain, ready to pounce. She did. Ball in net. Cue chaos. Alumni on the sidelines said it felt like the Super Bowl. Which, for a team that’s been chasing this win since the Bush administration, checks out.
But this wasn’t just about one goal. Or one game. Or even one season. This was about a shift. A vibe change. The team didn’t just show up. They believed. They trained like maniacs. They defended like their scholarships depended on it. And they benched harder than any team in the league. Yes, benched. Because apparently, Dartmouth’s sideline energy is so intense it’s become a competitive advantage. “We out-bench them,” Goebel said. Iconic.
Harvard, for all its pedigree, looked rattled. They couldn’t convert. Couldn’t crack the back line. Couldn’t silence the Dartmouth crowd, which, by the way, showed up in force. Schram said it felt like a home game. That’s not just poetic—it’s tactical. When your fans travel and turn enemy territory into friendly fire, you’ve already won half the battle.
And let’s talk about Ryan for a second. First college goal. First time beating Harvard. First time making history. She called it “pretty unreal,” which is adorable, but also wildly understated. She’s not just a defender anymore. She’s a symbol. Of what happens when preparation meets opportunity and throws a party.
Goebel, meanwhile, is quietly building a resume that screams “future Ivy League legend.” Two starts. Two shutouts. And a postgame interview that reads like a TED Talk on trust and teamwork. She credited everyone: midfielders, forwards, benchwarmers, probably the equipment manager. That’s the kind of goalie you build dynasties around.
Schram’s coaching philosophy is part boot camp, part motivational seminar. She says Dartmouth is the fittest team in the league. She says they walk into every game believing they’re the better team. And now, with Harvard in the rearview mirror, it’s not just talk. It’s truth.
The Ivy League opener was supposed to be a test. A measuring stick. A reality check. Instead, it became a statement. Dartmouth isn’t just here to compete. They’re here to rewrite the narrative. To flip the script. To make Harvard wish they’d scheduled a bye week.
And while the scoreboard read 1-0, the emotional score was something like 100-0. Because this win wasn’t just about soccer. It was about legacy. About breaking cycles. About proving that history doesn’t have to repeat itself if you’re willing to run harder, yell louder, and believe deeper.
So what’s next? More Ivy matchups. More chances to flex. More opportunities to turn “it’s our time” into “it’s always our time.” But for now, let’s sit with this moment. Let it marinate. Let it echo through the halls of Leverone and the pages of dusty record books.
Because on September 20, 2025, Dartmouth women’s soccer didn’t just beat Harvard. They changed the game. For more Dartmouth sports coverage, follow the Independent.
