The Big Green (5-3-1, 1-1 Ivy) found itself trailing the Catamounts twice during the match but managed to dig its way out of the hole both times. According to forward Maarten van Ess '12, the team used the scoreboard as motivation for increased focus, and players did not become fazed or worried.
"We went down twice and the whole time there was no sense of panic, whether it was on the bench or on the field," he said. "Often teams will get down emotionally which then transfers to worse physical play. We didn't do that."
Vermont junior forward Nick O'Neill got on the board early in the third minute of the game off a throw-in and flick.
Dartmouth came back almost immediately to tie the game in the seventh minute. Midfielder Austin Bowers '11 found fellow midfielder Aaron Gaide '11 with a through ball, which Gaide put away with a low shot past Vermont goalkeeper Xan Rousselle. The goal was Gaide's first of the year.
The Catamounts took the lead again in the 31st minute off of a free kick from 30 yards out.
"We were disappointed to give away the two goals on those set pieces," Big Green head coach Jeff Cook said. "I would compliment our players for sticking with it, when we'd been playing well to give away a set piece."
The Big Green struggled to defend against the strong Vermont players and their physical style of play, according to Cook.
"The physical nature made it difficult to clear balls effectively," he said. "They are a big, scrappy team and we needed to match that. But we also needed to play our game to our own strengths and not be tempted to play their long-ball physical type of game."
After a long battle of very physical play, the Big Green finally answered in the 83rd minute with a goal from co-captain Daniel Keat '10. Keat capitalized on a failed Vermont clear to score an unassisted goal from 25 yards out.
Just 47 seconds later, co-captain Andrew Olsen '11 sent a cross just outside the box and van Ess finished with a header to give Dartmouth the lead and, ultimately, a victory.
"Olsen got the ball, took on one of the defenders, floated one near post and I was there to head it in," van Ess said of the play.
The team captains stood out throughout the game for their play, leading by example, according to Cook.
"It was a very challenging game," Cook said. "We've been a little frustrated about our past games. The scoreline didn't reflect how close the game was."
Wrapping up their time on the road with a win over Vermont was an important victory for the Big Green, according to Keat.
"This game has given us a huge amount of confidence, winning on the road isn't something we've been doing," he said. "It's great to go someplace that's tough to play and then win. We're on a bit of a high and if we can get another one this weekend not many teams are going to want to face us."
The team is focusing on recovery to ensure they are fresh for their next game, according to Cook.
"Looking at our schedule we've had as difficult as any team in the country a lot of games, just came off a three game road trip, played some of the best teams in the country, the first step is going to be recovering," he said.
The Big Green will next face Yale University at home on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Burnham field.
