The Dartmouth men's soccer team split its two games in California this weekend, defeating the University of San Diego 3-2 Friday before dropping a close contest to Loyola Marymount University 3-2 on Sunday. The Big Green (4-1-1, 0-0 Ivy) dropped from No. 5 to No. 14 nationally in the wake of this weekend's play.
Dartmouth found itself trailing early in both games, but a late strike from co-captain Craig Henderson '09 in the 77th minute secured the victory against San Diego.
The Big Green got off to a sluggish start in the first half against the Torreos (4-2-0, 0-0-0 West Coast), and was outshot 6-2, allowing a 35th-minute goal off a header right before the half.
"We started really slowly on Friday," co-captain Dan Keat '10 said. "It's just one of those things, we couldn't point a finger at what it was. We came out in the second half, and it was a completely different team."
Dartmouth also had to contend with the California heat.
"It was really hot out there which is no excuse for the results but it was obviously a little different than out here [in Hanover]," Keat said. "It was about 80 degrees for kickoff, but you can only do what you can do. I don't think that fitness was a factor, it was like that for both teams."
The Big Green was able to rally in the second half, creating a 5-2 shot advantage and getting on the board when Austin Bowers '11 found twine from the middle of the box off a feed from Lucky Mkosana '12.
Dartmouth's co-captains secured the game winner when Keat connected with Henderson to score for the Big Green.
Keat's assist was part of a three-point weekend in which he also scored twice. Both Keat and Henderson were named to the All-Tournament team. In the first six games of the season, Keat, who was also named Ivy League Player of the Week, has six goals and an assist.
On Sunday, Dartmouth again struggled to get its offense going, and relied on a late-game comeback to keep the contest close.
No. 18 Loyola Marymount (4-2-0, 0-0-0 West Coast) was able to keep Dartmouth off the board until the 76th minute. The Lions scored just before the half off of a free kick and an ensuing scramble in the box, securing the lead. Loyola Marymount added to its advantage just after the break with a long counterattack from its defensive end.
The Big Green saved some fireworks for the final 15 minutes, when Bryan Giudicelli '11 assisted Keat's first of two goals. Henderson also found Keat several minutes later at the top of the box, leveling the score at two with 10 minutes to play.
Dartmouth had its share of scoring opportunities late in the game Adam Rice '12 had a shot deflected, and Andrew Olsen '11 had a shot blocked but was unable to capitalize.
Loyola Marymount rallied late after a corner was cleared out and Rafael Baca fired the game-winning shot from 20 yards out.
"It's a little disappointing, to be honest," Keat said. "We definitely should have come away with two wins this weekend."
Over both games, Dartmouth struggled with piecing together consistently good play over an extended period of time.
"We played probably 45 minutes of each game of good stuff, and the rest we let ourselves down a bit," Keat said.
After a red-eye flight from the West Coast, Dartmouth will get back to practice in Hanover tomorrow, preparing for an important match on Saturday at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.
With only one game on the weekend, Dartmouth is determined to get back to its winning ways, Keat said.
"The loss will be pretty good motivation for next weekend," he said. "On Saturday, we only have one game so there's no reason we shouldn't start off really well."
Dartmouth does not return home until the following week when the team will take on rival University of Vermont at Burnham Field.
