BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Dartmouth men's soccer team snapped its two-game losing streak by defeating Twin State rival, Vermont, 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon. The win give the Big Green four straight over the Catamounts and snaps Vermont's six-game undefeated streak.
After just one goal in the first 45 minutes of action, the second half was a flurry of goals with three goals in a span of four minutes. Dartmouth (4-5-0) added to its tally with a goal from Colin Heffron (Upper Brookville, N.Y.) in the 64th minute. Heffron's head connected with a ball served from Tommy Johnson (Klein, Texas) from outside the penalty box giving Heffron his first goal of the season.
Vermont (4-4-3) was able to get one back just 62 seconds later, capitalizing on a penalty kick, to pull within one score. Unfortunately, for the host Catamounts, Dartmouth wasn't done scoring and sealed the victory with a goal from senior Brad Jacobson (Larchmont, N.Y.). Jacobson hit a bullet into the net after getting a low pass at the top of the box from Robin Alnas (Gothenberg, Sweden).
Despite the score, Big Green goalkeeper Noah Cohen (Johannesburg, South Africa) made six saves in the game, his second consecutive game of six saves. Dartmouth spread thing out on the offensive side of the ball, with five different players taking at least two shots.
Playing with a foggy backdrop for most of the contest, the Big Green and Catamounts seemed to be moving the ball up and down the field well, but it was the Big Green that struck first.
Leading scorer Alex Adelabu (Houston, Texas) picked up his sixth goal of the season and his second header, on a Kevin Dzierzawski (Oakland Township, Mich.) corner kick at the 20:55 mark. Adelabu's head connected with a second service from Dzierzawski leading to the goal.
Adelabu's goal seemed to jumpstart the Big Green as they clamped down on the defense end of things, keeping Vermont locked in its defensive third of the field. Despite, the Big Green controlling play, the Catamounts had a prime opportunity on a corner kick but Dartmouth cleared and in fact, created a transition opportunity for Dzierzawski, but the Vermont defense cleared the ball out of danger.
Freshman defender Sten Stray-Gundersen (Frisco, Texas) was crucial in helping the Big Green push forward on offense. He served up several long balls in which the Dartmouth midfielders and forwards were able to run onto, helping to push the attack.
The Big Green held a 10-4 advantage on corner kicks, including 8-2 in the first half. Several of those opportunities resulted in scoring opportunities forcing the Vermont goalkeeper to make two saves in the first frame.
The Big Green return to Burnham Field on Saturday (Oct. 6) when they welcome Ivy League foe, Yale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. for the Ivy League matchup.
AGATE
Dartmouth (4-5-0) vs. Vermont (4-4-3)
Date: 10/3/12 Attendance: 372 Weather:
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Dartmouth........... 1 2 - 3
VERMONT............. 0 1 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 20:55 DART Adelabu, Alex (Dzierzawski, Kevin) - header off second service from 10 off corner kick
2. 63:40 DART Heffron, Colin (Johnson, Tommy) - header from service outside of penalty from 12
3. 64:42 VERMONT Losier, Joe Penalty kick
4. 67:28 DART Jacobson, Brad (Alnas, Robin) - blast from the top of the box off low pass from 6
Shots: Dartmouth 13, VERMONT 9
Saves: Dartmouth 6 (Cohen, Noah 6), VERMONT 2 (Leland, Conor 2)
