HANOVER, N.H. - A first-half goal from sophomore midfielder Marina Moschitto (Andover, Mass) was all Dartmouth women's soccer team needed as it defeated regional rival Maine, 1-0, at Burnham Field on Sunday afternoon. The win moves the Big Green to 2-0 at home this season.
After dominating the first half of play, Dartmouth (2-4-0) got on the scoreboard in the 34th minute of action. Sophomore defender Kelly Brait (Glenview, Ill.) placed a corner kick in the middle of the Maine box. Once the ball hit the ground, senior midfielder Ally Dutton (Granite Bay, Calif.) tapped the ball to Moschitto who drove it past Maine goalkeeper, Meagan Price-Leibenzede for the game-winner.
Dartmouth withstood a late push from the Black Bears in the final minutes of the game including stifling a breakaway. After Maine broke through the Dartmouth defense, freshman defender Laura Thurber (Belmont, Mass.) tracked down the ball and kicked it out of bounds to preserve the Dartmouth victory.
The Big Green had a great day on the offensive side of the ball and held a 10-5 shots advantage and took nine corner kicks on the afternoon. Junior defender Paige Dekker (Albuquerque, N.M.) led the Big Green with four shots while Brait and Dutton each picked up assists on the afternoon. Senior Colleen Hogan (Houston, Texas) made her first start in goal this season and made one save in 90 minutes of action.
After taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, Dartmouth continued to shine on both sides of the ball and had several impressive scoring chances off set plays. Sophomore Chrissy Lozier (Fairfield, Conn.) placed several balls right into the middle of the Maine box for her teammates including one ball late in the second half that Brait had a play on but it went just wide of the net.
Dartmouth controlled the offense early in the game keeping possession of the ball for long stretches to open the game and was able to string together several nice passes out of the back of the field to move the ball into Maine territory. The Big Green had a nice chance early on a corner kick from Lozier. She placed the ball in the middle of the Maine box and several forwards made a play on it, but Dartmouth couldn't find the back of the net.
Dartmouth hits the road for a non-conference matchup with Colgate on Tuesday (Sept. 20). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Colgate's Van Doren Field.
