After a pair of losses against No. 5 UConn and No. 13 BC last week, the field hockey team was able to finish the weekend on a two-game win streak. The Bulldogs (2–3–1, 2–3–1 Ivy) defeated Dartmouth 3–1 and Holy Cross 2-0, and are now tied for second place in the Ivy League with Cornell.

Saturday’s trip to Hanover was, on paper, a difficult one for Yale as the Big Green came into the weekend third in the nation in goals per game. And that top-ranked Dartmouth offense struck early, when Virginia Peisch scored off a rebound to give the Big Green a 1–0 lead.

Back Erin Carter ’12 tied things up on a penalty corner goal less than a minute later, taking a feed from midfielder Dinah Landshut ’12 and burying it in the back of the Dartmouth net.

Ten minutes into the second frame, Carter and Landshut combined for another penalty corner goal, giving Landshut her 11th assist on the season. Katie Cantore ’10 set the single season record last season with 16.

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Johna Paolino ’11 put the game out of reach for the Big Green after she scored a goal with just under 15 minutes left in the game, giving the Bulldogs a 3–1 lead. It was her third goal of the season, a career record for Paolino in that category.

The Bulldogs’ penalty corner dominance continued Sunday, as did Landshut’s assault on Cantore’s assist record, when they traveled to Holy Cross — a team that, coming into Sunday’s contest, hadn’t won a game.

Yale showed no signs of letting up early on, outshooting the Crusaders 7–1 in the first. The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on the shot disparity when Mary Beth Barham ’13 deposited a rebound in the back of the net to give the Bulldogs the lead in the 19th minute.

The Elis were unable to convert again, and took the 1–0 lead into halftime. But not 10 minutes after the intermission, Carter and Landshut were at it again, combining for their third penalty corner goal of the season to give the Bulldogs some insurance, and a 2–0 lead they would not relinquish.

“Dinah has done an awesome job as stick-stop this year,” Carter said. “She’s consistent in the basic skill, but also is able to read the plays very well. Her assist total obviously reflects this.”

That assist total, 12, puts Landshut just four off Cantore’s record-setting pace of last season, and moves her into a tie for fourth on Yale’s all-time list with 25 career helpers.

“The assists really are a credit to the entire corner unit,” Landshut said. “Every part matters, from insert to the shot. All players that are part of our corner unit have grown tremendously in their skill, and all have contributed to our scoring and assist totals.”

The three goals for Carter give her seven for the season, and put her second on the team in points, one behind forward Erica Borgo ’14, who has 15. Landshut is fourth on the team in points, trailing only Borgo, Carter and Georgia Holland ’14, who has 13.

The wins send Yale’s overall record to 8–5, and their conference total to 3–1, the lone blemish a loss to perennial powerhouse No. 4 Princeton. The Bulldogs are currently on the bubble for postseason play, but need to finish strong if they hope to keep that bubble from bursting. Their next challenge on the road to the postseason will be a game against Penn (2–11, 1–3) next Saturday — a team that, though they have struggled so far this season, took the Bulldogs to overtime last season before Mia Rosati ’13 scored the game-winner to send Yale home with the win.

“Yesterday we were able to succeed because we recognized Dartmouth’s strengths and adjusted accordingly defensively, while capitalizing on our opportunities offensively.” Barham said. “With Penn next weekend we have the home field advantage and won’t have to play on their turf like last year, but, that said, we’ll have to come out strong and play consistent Yale field hockey.”

The Bulldogs and Quakers take the field Saturday at noon at Johnson Field.