The goal puts Akpan just two goals shy of the all-time career scoring mark, currently held by Chris Ohiri ’64.
A minute and a half later, it looked like the Crimson would go up one more, but Rogers’ shot hit the crossbar, and Dartmouth defenders boxed him out for the rebound.
The freshman’s effort proved to be the Crimson’s last shot of the game. The Big Green regained its control of the ball and, just as in the first half, Harvard relied on its defense to deliver the victory.
“We expected them to put a lot of pressure on us,” Nyamekye said.
The defense was up to the challenge. Missed opportunities by the Big Green certainly didn’t hurt, as Dartmouth forwards had four shots miss the goal near the end of the game. But the Big Green hounded the ball, and just as before, it seemed a matter of time before one went their way. When the ball finally went past Harms, it seemed for a split second that the score would be tied.
But Nyamekye had other ideas, clearing the ball before it broke the plane.
“Every time we needed something won in the air [or] cleared, [Nyamekye was there],” Clark said. “And kind of a cherry on top, he scores a goal.”