HANOVER, N.H.- Second-half goals from senior captains Lucky Mkosana (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) and Nick Pappas (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the Dartmouth men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over rival, Vermont on Tuesday (Oct. 4) night. The win extended Dartmouth's wins streak to three consecutive games and gave the Big Green its third straight win over the rival, Catamounts.
Mkosana led the Dartmouth (4-3-2, 1-0-0 Ivy League) offense with six shots, with three reaching frame while junior midfielder Kevin Dzierzawski (Oakland Township, Mich.) added two additional shots and picked up assists on both of the Dartmouth goals. Sophomore goalkeeper, Noah Cohen (Johannesburg, South Africa) made two saves in 90 minutes of action and picked up his third shutout of the season.
Entering the second half deadlocked at 0-0, Dartmouth took its offense to another level in the second frame, outshooting Vermont, 11-5, and holding a 6-0 second half advantage on corner kicks.
The Big Green got on the board in the 60th minute of action with Mkosana's team-leading seventh goal of the season. Dzierzawski played a long ball into the box from the outside left corner, which Mkosana collected and put into the open net away from Vermont goalkeeper, David Ramada. Mkosana's goal extended his scoring streak to four consecutive games and was his seventh goal in Dartmouth's last six games.
The Big Green added an insurance goal in the 76th minute when senior defender Pappas headed home a Dzierzawski corner kick; sealing the win and giving the Big Green its third consecutive win and its fourth win at Burnham Field this season.
Joe Losier and Salvatore Borea led the Vermont (6-4-0, 1-0-0 America East) offense with one shot on goal apiece while David Ramada made four saves in 80:42 minutes of action. Backup goalkeeper Conor Leland made no saves in 9:18 of action.
The first half was a very evenly played half with both team recording several scoring opportunities. The Catamounts had a prime opportunity in the 42nd minute when a header from Yannick Lewis hit the post and scattered just outside of the box. Dartmouth also had some good opportunities in the first half including back-to-back shots from Dzierzawski and Mkosana that Ramada was able to make saves on.
Dartmouth hits the road for its next two matches. The Big Green's two-game road swing starts on Saturday (Oct. 8) when it travels to Yale for a matchup with the Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. at Reese Stadium.
