Early Goal Helps #17 Dartmouth Shut Out San Diego State

Sunday, September 28

Hanover, N.H.

12:00 PM

Dartmouth College

San Diego State

Early Goal Helps #17 Dartmouth Shut Out San Diego State

9/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

Boxscore

HANOVER, N.H. - Two goalkeepers turned in big performances today but the Dartmouth men's soccer team held on to an early lead to defeat San Diego State, 1-0, today at Burnham Field.

The Big Green (5-2) held tight after an early goal against SDSU (2-5) to pick up its third shutout of the season. The teams were balanced throughout the contest, each taking 11 shots and with each keeper picking up seven saves.

Dartmouth struck just under two minutes into the game and it would be all the lead it needed. Senior Craig Henderson (Wellington, New Zealand) fired in a free kick from 20 yards out, center, and San Diego keeper Morgan Maestas made the save. He could not secure the rebound, however, and sophomore Bryan Giudicelli (Emerald Hills, Calif.) was there to clean up for his third goal of the season.

Each team took five shots in the first half, but Dartmouth held off the Aztecs's surge to keep its 1-0 lead intact at the break.

San Diego State tested the Dartmouth defense early in the second half, but could not rattle senior goalkeeper Sean Milligan (Westport, Conn.) and his troops. Milligan got some help from the back line in the 65th minute when the Aztecs looked ready for the equalizer but junior Donnie Surdoval (Sparta, N.J.) flew into the box to head the ball out.

Surdoval got the offense going seven minutes later when he tracked down the loose ball and got it over to classmate Pumi Maqubela (Andover, Mass.). Maqubela sent a booming ball up to rookie Lucky Mkosana (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) who fired at Maestas but the Aztecs' keeper made a point blank save.

The Big Green survived a late surge by the Aztecs including clearing out two San Diego corner kicks in the last two minutes to secure the 1-0 win.

Dartmouth is back in action next Saturday at Princeton for a 4:00 p.m. start in its Ivy opener.