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The Dartmouth
March 29, 2024 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Soccer teams split midweek games

The men's soccer team suffered a 1-0 overtime loss at Boston College on Wednesday, the Big Green's third overtime loss of the season.
The men's soccer team suffered a 1-0 overtime loss at Boston College on Wednesday, the Big Green's third overtime loss of the season.

The Big Green women (8-4, 3-1 Ivy) recorded their fourth shutout of the year, as captain Emma Brush '13 scored her third game-winning goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Brown (6-5, 0-3 Ivy). The Dartmouth men (5-6, 1-1 Ivy) fell in overtime to Boston College (8-4-2, 2-3-0 ACC) by a score of 1-0. The game ended in the fifth minute of the extra session on a goal by Boston College senior Kyle Bekker.

The women's team dominated on both sides of the ball for most of the contest. In the first 15 minutes of action, the Big Green recorded four shots, including back-to-back chances from Brush and captain Aurelia Solomon '13 but could not convert.

Despite outshooting the Bears, 9-2, in the first half, the game remained scoreless entering the second stanza. Dartmouth finally capitalized in the 65th minute on a play that began back on defense. Solomon took a free kick just over the midfield line and placed the ball in the center of the box. After a touch from Lucielle Kozlov '16, Brush headed the ball into the back of the net for her team-high seventh goal of the season.

"We stayed composed because we were playing well and creating chances, and we knew it was going to come," Solomon said. "We were confident we could beat them again, and we just stayed with the game plan and kept attacking."

Due to injuries, the Big Green had a different defensive lineup than usual, featuring Jackie Friedman '16 at center back and Laura Thurber '15 on the wing. Despite these changes, the defense held strong and maintained its composure. The Brown offense was held to only four shots in the game, compared to 21 for the Big Green.

"I was really impressed with how well we communicated with each other," Solomon said. "I think it speaks a lot to the depth of our team that the [substitutes] who haven't played as much can come in and play really well and hold off a shutout."

In the men's game at Boston College, things were not so rosy. Five minutes into the overtime period, Boston College freshman Jason Abbot sent a free kick swinging across the box that found Bekker's waiting head. The senior gracefully tucked the ball into the corner from six yards out.

"It was the best game we've played as a defensive unit so far," goalkeeper Noah Cohen '14 said. "The goal was one lapse in concentration. They were a good team that I expect to break other teams down, and I think we did a good job keeping their best players out of the game."

Both teams notched double-digit shots but struggled to find the cage, with a combined eight shots on net in the game. Even with their limited opportunities, both goalies played well. Cohen stopped four of the five shots that came his way.

Cohen especially had to come up big in the final minutes of regulation. In the 89th minute, Abbot ripped a shot that Cohen saved, and a minute later, Bekker had a shot blocked. The best scoring chance for the Big Green came in the 73rd minute off of the foot of Eric Jayne '15.

From the beginning, the game was tightly contested, with both teams notching numerous opportunities. Andoni Georgiou '14, Kevin Dzierzawski '13 and Jayne all tallied shots on net, but the Eagles' senior goalkeeper Justin Luthy was up to the task, stopping all three of the shots that came his way.

The Big Green missed just high or just wide on many of its eight shots.

"We had a lot of good chances," Cohen said. "Unfortunately, they just didn't go in it happens."

The Bears held the overall advantage in shots, 16-11, while the Big Green won more corner kicks, 4-2.

The Dartmouth men will return to Hanover to face the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Dartmouth is currently tied for fourth in the Ivy League with Columbia University, while Penn (2-9, 0-2 Ivy) is alone in the basement of the league.

"We played very well on Wednesday, so there's not that much to improve," Cohen said. "We just need to be much more ruthless and put a team away when we get the chance."

The Dartmouth women will be back in action on Saturday when they face current Ivy League leader Penn at Burnham Field. Solomon said that the Big Green needs to maintain its focus to continue its success.

"It's really focusing on the little things doing your job as a forward, as a midfielder, as a defender," Solomon said. "I think we've done a good job of that. We just have to make sure we keep our focus as the season continues."