#6 Dartmouth and #18 UConn Battle to 0-0 Double Overtime Draw

Friday, September 11

HANOVER, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

UCONN

#6 Dartmouth and #18 UConn Battle to 0-0 Double Overtime Draw

9/11/2009 10:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

Boxscore

Hanover, N.H. - The sixth ranked Dartmouth men's soccer team had an edge all night but could not find the back of the net against New England rival #18 UConn as the teams played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie.

A steady rain did not deter the 1511 fans who came out for the battle at Burnham, on the edge of their seats all night. Dartmouth (2-0-1), which has yet to surrender a goal this season had a clear advantage in both shots, 17-7, and corner kicks, 12-3 over UConn (1-1-1). The contest was the nightcap of the first day of the 2009 Hypertherm Classic, with Rhode Island topping Iona, 2-0 in the opener.

Dartmouth rookie goalkeeper Sean Donovan (Burr Ridge, Ill.) earned his second straight shutout with two saves in goal while UConn's Josh Ford made seven saves including a spectacular game-saver in the 86th minute. Nine of the Big Green's 12 corner kicks came in the second half, when Dartmouth pressured the Huskies relentlessly but to no avail. Lucky Mkosana (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) led the Green in shot attempts with eight including three on goal.

The Big Green's tested Ford early with a few good looks but the first set piece came in the 18th minute off a corner kick by Andrew Olsen (Norwell, Mass.), who was kept busy all night in the corners. Nick Pappas (Scottsdale, Ariz.) headed the ball out to Mkosana, who blasted a shot that was blocked. Daniel Keat (Wellington, New Zealand) caught the deflection but his shot was just outside the corner of the goal.

Just under 10 minutes later, Mkosana stepped up for a free kick that he blasted from about 25 yards out and Ford bobbled the save but Dartmouth was unable to capitalize on the briefly loose ball. The Huskies mounted a quick counterattack with consecutive corner kicks in the 29th minute, but Donovan made a great close-range save in a collision with UConn's Thomas Wharf.

The teams went into halftime with Dartmouth holding an 8-3 shot advantage and a surge of late momentum.

The Big Green picked up where it left off in the first as Mkosana earned a direct kick just outside the box but Keat's attempt went right into the Huskies wall and into midfield. Connecticut native Austin Bowers (Old Greenwich, Conn.) made some great runs and nearly had the Green on the board when UConn's Toni Stahl blocked his shot in the 57th minute.

Senior Craig Henderson (Wellington, New Zealand) had a great look in the 63rd minute off a perfect corner from Olsen but his header missed just high as Ford popped the ball out. UConn did not take its first shot of the half until the 65th minute when Stahl missed wide right.

The Burnham Field crowd held its breath in the 75th minute when UConn's Pezza fired from 25 yards and hit the post, with an audible sigh following the ping of the ball. The Big Green countered with a furious attack in the final 10 minutes including a direct kick just outside the box on the left side but a Husky defender headed the ball out.

The biggest chance of the night came with just four minutes to play in regulation when Mkosana fired a rocket from just outside the 18 but Ford made a tremendous leaping save to punch the ball out above the far corner.

Both overtime periods proved to be midfield battles though Dartmouth mounted a late attack with two corner kicks and a shot.

The Big Green has a quick turnaround before facing Rhode Island in the final game of the tournament on Sunday at 2:30. UConn faces Iona in the opener at noon.