The men's soccer team blew out an Ivy League opponent for the second time in a row this season, crushing Yale 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Chase Field.
"To score seven goals in an Ivy League game is quite an accomplishment," Coach Fran O'Leary said.
Revenge was sweet for the Big Green, who had suffered three straight 1-0 defeats to the Elis over the last three seasons.
"We had a vendetta," admitted Dartmouth co-captain Blaine LeGere '95.
The scoring spree started with a picturesque goal in the 5th minute. Ian Saward '95 placed a free-kick on the head of Chris Mitchell '95 near the top of the Yale penalty box. With his back to the goal, Mitchell head-skipped the ball towards Yale's far-post, where Hunter Paschall '96 leapt for a goal-scoring header.
Dartmouth went up 2-0 nine minutes later thanks to a spectular, powerful blast from LeGere's right foot. Methembe Ndlovu '97 set up LeGere, who was nearly 35 yards from the Yale goal when he unleashed a wicked, knuckling shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced into the net.
Ndlovu then scored his first goal of the season in the 35th minute when Yale failed to clear a LeGere cross. Ndlovu took one touch to control the loose ball, then placed a right-footed shot into the lower left corner of the goal.
Another LeGere cross opened the scoring in the second-half. Paschall put the Big Green up 4-0 with his second goal of the game.
Thirty seconds later, John Bosacco '96 scored the first goal of his collegiate career, converting a Mitchell pass by striking a right-footed shot to the left of Yale goalie Adam Sullins' outstretched arms.
Mitchell then added to Yale's misery with a perfectly-placed dipping free-kick that bended around Yale's wall and skimmed the bottom of the crossbar before tickling the twine. The goal, Mitchell's third of the season, brought Dartmouth up to 6-0.
Paschall added the extra point and completed his first career hat-trick in the 89th minute. Again, a LeGere cross set up the goal, with Asa Marokus '95 heading LeGere's pass to Auggie Lopez '97, who then fed Paschall.
"About five minutes into the game, I felt it was going to be our day," O'Leary said. "Everyone was tuned-in right from the start."
Both LeGere and O'Leary commented that had Dartmouth lost, the seniors would have graduated without having beating Yale. The Elis were the only Ivy League team that the '95's hadn't beaten in their careers.
With the win, Dartmouth's record remains perfect at 3-0 in O'Leary's inaugural season as head coach. Local rival, the University of New Hampshire is the next home test for the Big Green, who will then play their next four games on the road.
"UNH has one of the toughest schedules in the region," O'Leary said. "We're hoping for another big crowd, and we'd love to go away with a win."
The UNH game is 4:00pm on Wednesday at Chase Field.
