After shutting out the University of New Hampshire 1-0 last night, the men's soccer team finds itself on a two game win streak following an 0-6 start to the season.
The Big Green must now prepare to face nationally ranked Brown on Sunday in a clash of Ivy League co-leaders.
Yesterday, the game's only goal came as a result of a poorly played ball by the New Hampshire goalkeeper. While the Wildcat goalkeeper was waiting to play a ball that was headed towards the box, the Big Green's August "Auggie" Lopez '97 charged the box and tapped the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
The Big Green's defense made the goal stand as Dartmouth recorded its first non-Ivy League victory of the season.
Big Green goalkeeper Matt Nyman '99, who notched his first win Saturday against Yale, recorded his first shutout for the Big Green.
"It felt good to get my first shutout," Nyman said. "I was hoping to get it against Yale, but hopefully there will be many more this year."
The Big Green's biggest problem yesterday was adjusting to the Wildcat's field, which was much smaller than any other field they had played on this year.
"The game was really an ugly game because of the field," forward Hunter Paschall '96 said. "They play on a short field, and as a result it the play was very rough and physical, almost a brawl at times."
Freshman Gareth Jones said, "Due to the field and the rain, it was not a day for great soccer, and we're lucky that Auggie stepped up when he did to give us the win. You have to hand it to the coaching staff because they kept us focused on this game even though it would have been very easy to look ahead to Brown."
After dropping four of the first six games by one goal, many players on the squad feel like the team is starting to come together.
"We knew going in to the year that because of some injuries, we we're going to have to rely on the talented group of freshmen on this squad," Paschall said. "It took them awhile, but they [the freshman] are starting to learn their roles and tighten their games. This group is beginning to understand what it means to play Division I soccer, and their improvement is the key behind our turnaround."
"It was just a matter of time before we came together," Brendan Reidy '99 said. "With every win, our confidence both individually and as a team grows. We're learning each other's style of play and as a result we're working the ball around better."
The team's biggest game of the year will be this Sunday at Chase Field when they take on Brown, who is ranked tenth in the nation. Both teams are undefeated in Ivy League play this year.
"Brown is the team to beat in the Ivy League this year, and to beat them would definitely show that we are on the right track," Jones said.
