Dartmouth (7-4-2, 3-1-0 Ivy) controlled the ball in the midfield and connected offensively for much of the first half but failed to capitalize in front of the goal. The Raiders (9-4-3, 3-1-1 Patriot) applied consistent pressure, blocking shots and forcing players to pass back.
With maroon and white jerseys tearing up the sidelines and serving the ball into the box, Colgate played with a solid offense that kept the Dartmouth defense on its toes. The Big Green turned away all of the Raiders' corner kicks with headers out of the box and saves by Cohen.
Mkosana, Maarten van Ess '12 and Pat Murray '14 worked together up top to connect on crisp passes but had trouble getting off quality shots in the first half.
One of the best chances of the period came right before halftime. Kevin Dzierzawski '13 crossed the ball inches in front of the goal line, but no teammates reached it in time to finish.
Dartmouth came out with energy after the break, firing at the Colgate net just minutes into the second half. Both Van Ess and Mkosana came inches away from scoring.
Colgate eventually regained control of the ball, forcing Cohen to punch a high shot away from his net. Colgate gathered the rebound and took another shot that missed just wide of the left post.
The Big Green finally put all of the pieces together in the 62nd minute. Connecting through the midfield and working the ball into the box, Van Ess hit Mkosana with a square pass less than 10 yards from goal. Mkosana collected the ball and slotted it into the lower left net before the Colgate goalkeeper could make a play.
Mkosana almost added another goal on a volley shot less than two minutes later, but junior goalie Grant Reed made a good save.
"It all happened really fast," Mkosana said. "I thought [van Ess] was going to shoot but he played the ball just in front of me and I got there before my defender and the goalie didn't make it."
Needing a goal to get back in the game, Colgate worked the ball up the field and earned a corner kick. The Big Green defense cleared the initial shot off the line, and Cohen blocked the rebound from close range before securing the third shot of the series.
Dartmouth and Colgate traded shots for the rest of the match, making Cohen and Reed work hard to prevent either team from scoring. Dartmouth controlled possession, however, working the ball around and taking time off the clock on dead balls. The Raiders pushed until the last whistle, but the Big Green extinguished its attack.
Mkosana said the team picked up its intensity in the second half and played much better as a unit.
"We had more confidence in the second half, especially after the goal," he said. "We kept the ball better and made them run a lot, which definitely helped us. Noah and the rest of the defense were exceptional today."
Head coach Jeff Cook called the midweek game "a challenge."
"We have a lot of respect for Colgate and it can be difficult coming off of an emotional Ivy League win on Homecoming to play shortly after at the same high level," Cook said.
After intense play all week and over the weekend, the matchup against Colgate "was the toughest game of the season," Mkosana said.
"My legs felt really heavy but it got better in the second half and I felt fine," Mkosana said. "We were all struggling a little and while it was not our best game, we will take a win any day."
Cook lauded Cohen and the defense for their performance.
"If we have a defensive breakdown, Cohen usually comes up with a big save that gives us the belief to go on and get the win," Cook said. "The result is critical this late in the season and he was called upon big time tonight and came through."
Dartmouth plays Harvard University on Saturday in Cambridge, Mass. The Big Green is currently in second place in the League, trailing Cornell University with three conference games remaining.
