HANOVER, N.H.—Perhaps they’re saving their best for last.

The Harvard women’s soccer team (7-6-2, 3-3 Ivy) suffered its worst defeat of the season on Sunday, dropping a 3-0 decision to Dartmouth (7-6-3, 2-3-1) in its final action before next Saturday’s season finale at home against Columbia.

The loss represented the Crimson’s first defeat of the season in which the margin was more than a single goal.

“A lot of factors went into it, but they basically just came out with more,” said freshman forward Jamie Greenwald. “They just played more intense and more motivated than we did.”

The Big Green relied on its underclassmen in the second half as it stormed to a 3-0 victory on Senior Day.

After playing a scoreless first half, Dartmouth came out to dominate in the second. Sophomore Nicole Cameli tallied the first one for the Big Green in the 59th minute.

An unlucky touch from Harvard freshman back Michelle Hull allowed Dartmouth junior Allison Green to collect the ball on the right side of the field. Green fired a cross from the corner that junior goalkeeper Katie Shields managed to get a finger on, but the ball ricocheted to the foot of waiting Cameli, who tapped it into the empty net.

“Once they scored, we actually bounced back for five minutes,” said Greenwald. “But then we just weren’t playing together.”

Sophomore midfielder Katie Johnston took a ball to the face at close range in the 71st minute. Soon afterwards, the Crimson was down for the count.

“I got blasted in the face,” said Johnston. “I blacked out for a second.”

Four minutes after Johnston was assisted off the field, Big Green sophomore Sarah Johnson dribbled down the left side and launched a goal through a wall of Harvard defenders past Shields’ outstretched hand.

“The loss is totally our fault,” said senior forward Alisha Moran. “I don’t think anyone would claim that it just didn’t go our way today. They outplayed us and deserved to win. I know we’re a far better team than we showed out there today.”

Dartmouth’s third goal added insult to injury in the 86th minute when Johnson tallied for the second time with a shot that was nearly identical to her first.

Johnston, who had reentered the game, lost the ball to the Big Green’s Colleen Kelly, who dribbled down the left side, looking to cross. Co-captain back Liza Barber shielded Kelly against the sideline, but Kelly weaved a pass to Johnson, who was waiting at the top of the 18.

Shields leapt to deflect the shot, but was unable to get her hand on it.

“They just wanted it more than we did,” said Johnston. “It definitely wasn’t a question of our ability.”

Harvard was plagued all day by its inability to control loose balls, as Dartmouth controlled possession for the majority of the contest, especially in the second half.

“We weren’t fighting for balls,” said Greenwald. “They were winning all the 50-50 balls. They just seemed more intense and a little more motivated then we did.”

Yet Harvard did create some scoring opportunities, even outshooting the Big Green 5-4 in the first half.

In the 17th minute of play, Johnston set up a corner kick to freshman Megan Meritt, who headed it to the goal where Dartmouth goalkeeper Anne Marbarger made a diving save to stop the ball right on the goal line.

Marbarger recorded five saves on the afternoon while Shields had four.

The Crimson will close out its season on Saturday when it hosts the Lions at 11:00 a.m.

“Everyone’s coming to play next weekend,” said Moran. “It’s my last game ever. I am definitely going to show up ready to play.”

—Staff writer Jonathan P. Hay can be reached at hay@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Carrie H. Petri can be reached at cpetri@fas.harvard.edu.