Gurnee's Goal Propels Big Green to Victory Over Vermont

Tuesday, September 20

Burlington, Vt.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Vermont

Gurnee's Goal Propels Big Green to Victory Over Vermont

9/20/2016 8:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The last time the Dartmouth women's soccer team squared off with Vermont, the Big Green offense exploded for six goals. On Tuesday night in Burlington, Dartmouth needed just one goal to secure a 1-0 victory over the Catamounts.

With the win the Big Green improve to 6-2-0, while Vermont falls to 5-3-1.

It was Meredith Gurnee's goal in the second half that made the difference and propelled Dartmouth to its sixth victory of the season. In the 55th minute, Gurnee freed up some space in front of her and fired a shot that nestled inside the left goal post for her second tally of the season.

“I thought Vermont did a nice job on top of the ball, but I thought our defense did a nice job of not allowing them in behind,” said Big Green head coach Ron Rainey. “The goal in the second half was a great strike by Meredith. It was really hit well and we were really happy for her with that goal. I'm also really proud of how the team played here in a one-goal game.”

The first half featured a defensive battle between the two squads, as most of the shots taken were from long range. Nine minutes into the contest the Catamounts took a hard shot that was blocked away by Dartmouth's back line. About 10 minutes later, Vermont had a solid look on a shot from 25 yards out, but Casey Cousineau made the stop for the Big Green.

Later in the first stanza, Dartmouth's offense came to life with an opportunity by Hayley Soriano that had to be saved by the keeper. With 12 minutes to play before halftime, the Catamounts had their best look of the half with a shot that was deflected in front of Cousineau that she was able to grab out of the air.

After the halftime break Vermont came out of the locker room strong, but the Big Green's defense held. Two minutes into the half, Cousineau made a tough save when the ball took an odd bounce off the turf after a long range shot. Just a few minutes later she made another key diving stop to help Dartmouth get back on offense.

After Gurnee broke the scoreless stalemate in the 55th minute, the Big Green wanted more. With 31 minutes to play, Remy Borinsky took a shot that hit off the right goal post.

Gurnee nearly added a second goal to the score sheet with 16 minutes left in the match when she attempted to beat the goalkeeper to the nearside. She finished the night with seven of the team's 13 shots.

Throughout the rest of the contest, the Big Green kept Vermont off the scoreboard thanks in part to a solid defensive effort and seven total saves from Cousineau. Her final key stop of the night came with under two minutes to play when the Altadena, California native made a finger tip stop on a high shot, preserving her fifth shutout win.

“The great thing this year with Casey is she is making every single save that she is supposed to make and she's also making some spectacular saves as well,” Rainey said. “She's been a rock for us. She's talking well and really helping to direct her back line and we've had some great performances on the back line as well.

Dartmouth returns home on Sunday when the Big Green open up Ivy League play with Brown at 1 p.m.