No. 20 Big Green Hold on to First Place in the Ivies

Saturday, October 21

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

9-3-1

Columbia

6-2-3

Columbia

Dartmouth

No. 20 Big Green Hold on to First Place in the Ivies

10/21/2017 9:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – Saturday night's battle for first place in the Ivy League was handily won by the No. 20 Dartmouth men's soccer team, who took down Columbia 2-1.

The win secures Dartmouth's spot as first in the conference and improves the record to 9-3-1, 3-0-1 in Ivy play while Columbia falls to 6-3-3 and 2-1-1 in league action.

“I'm really proud of the group, we always knew that was going to be a really challenging game and Columbia is clearly a top-20 team,” said head coach Chad Riley. “We knew they would test us, I think we handled the game well overall. Any time you play a good team they are going to get their chances, but for the most part our defense stood strong and we capitalized on a few good attacks. I'm really proud of the effort and the whole squad's commitment tonight.

“In a lot of ways, it might be nice to have some rest, but we're also in competition mode where we've got a deep squad, we've used it and we've continued to use it. Some guys will recover and some will train and get ready for our game on Tuesday.”

The Big Green jumped on the board in the 14th minute to start things off. Freshman Dawson McCartney sent a long pass into the box where junior Eduvie Ikoba was in position to head the ball in past the keeper and score. With high defensive pressure and strong control in their possessions, the home team was able to hold the Lions under the 1-0 lead through halftime.

Entering the second half, the Dartmouth attack wasted no time in striking again when junior Noah Paravicini sent a goal in from inside the 18 on an assist from Zach Kalk in the 47th minute and extended the lead.

With less than four minutes left in the game, Columbia was continuing to press for a goal and found a way to do so. In the 86th minute, John Denis sent in a shot that keeper Christopher Palacios went after and appeared to save, but the ball trickled through his fingers over the line enough for the referee to call a goal.

Now leading in conference wins, the team is holding strong to first place in several categories and following his goal tonight, Ikoba takes first place outright in goals for the season with seven.

The Big Green return to action on Tuesday hosting UConn at Burnham Field at 7 p.m.