Dartmouth and Vermont to Clash Thursday Afternoon in Burlington

GAME 6
Dartmouth (2-3, 0-0 Ivy League) at Vermont (2-4, 0-0 America East)
Dates: Thursday, March 14, 2024 – 2 p.m.
Location: Burlington, Vt.
All-Time Series: Dartmouth, 21-7
Watch Live (ESPN+) | Live Stats

Setting the Scene
The Dartmouth men's lacrosse team returns to action after more than a week off due to finals when the Big Green travel to Vermont on Thursday to face the Catamounts. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Dartmouth has alternated wins and losses this season, most recently dropping a 15-12 final against Stony Brook last Tuesday.

A back and forth game against the Seawolves saw the Big Green open leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 6-5, but Stony Brook scored two straight goals to take a 7-6 lead, on the way to the 15-12 victory. In total, five different Dartmouth players recorded multiple points, led by five points apiece from senior Peter Lapina (two goals, three assists) and junior Colin McGill (four goals, one assist). Lapina's five points were a career high while his three assists tied a career high. For McGill, it was his second five-point game of the season and third game with three or more points. McGill leads the Big Green in goals (14) and points (15) on the young season.

Junior goaltender Mason Morel entered in relief, making seven saves while allowing just four goals over the game's final 32:51. Fifth-year Mitchell Myers won 14-of-28 faceoffs with 10 groundballs, as he is at 58.7 percent (61-of-104) with 35 groundballs on the season.

Thursday, followed by a matchup at No. 11 Georgetown next Tuesday, wrap up nonleague play for the Big Green. Dartmouth and Vermont will meet for the first time since two seasons ago, when the Big Green defeated the Catamounts at home by an 8-7 final. Vermont has won outright or shared the America East regular season championship each of the last two seasons, winning the tournament in both 2021 and 2022.

With A Win...
- Dartmouth would improve to 22-7 all-time against Vermont.
- The Big Green would win a nonleague game for the 12th time in their last 18 tries dating back to the 2021 season.

Last Time Out
AVON, Conn. (3/6/24) — Stony Brook ended the first half with three straight goals to take an 11-8 lead, then held off multiple second-half comeback attempts by the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team, as the Big Green fell 15-12 on Tuesday night at Avon Old Farms. Junior Colin McGill led the offense with four goals and an assist, good for his second straight hat trick, third of the season and 12th of his career.

All-Time vs. Vermont
Dartmouth is 21-7 all-time against Vermont. The teams didn't play last season, but the Big Green won the previous meeting in 2022 (8-7 in Hanover). The teams didn't play in 2021, but the Catamounts were victorious in 2020 (9-8 in Burlington).

Scouting Vermont
Vermont has been near the top of the America East standings for several years now, having won outright or shared the regular season title each of the last three seasons, including winning the tournament in 2021 and 2022. Last season, UVM finished 9-5 overall, including 7-0 in the America East before being upset by fourth-seeded UAlbany in the semifinals. This season, Vermont stands 2-4 facing a tough schedule, including three nationally-ranked opponents. Last time out, the Catamounts defeated No. 20 UMass by a 13-12 final.

Charlie Pope leads UVM in goals (19) and points (22) while Tristan Whitaker has posted 14 (eight goals, six assists) and four others have reached double figures. Henry Dodge has won 57.4 percent of his faceoffs (93-of-162) with a team-leading 41 groundballs. Jack Combs' eight caused turnovers lead the Catamounts. George Egan has played every minute in goal, recording a 16.02 goals against average and 46.7 save percentage.

Zappitello Named to USILA National Team of the Week
Sophomore attackman Hopper Zappitello was recognized on the USILA National Team of the Week following his stellar eight-point effort in the Feb. 24 win over Holy Cross. Zappitello scored two goals and dished six assists, the most by a Big Green player since Ben Martin dished seven on Apr. 11, 2017 against UMass Lowell. He was one of just 10 student-athlete recognized across the country and one of only two from the Ivy League.

Paradine Named NEILA Preseason All-New England
Sophomore midfielder Emmett Paradine was recognized by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association as a member of the preseason All-New England Second Team. Last season's Ivy League Rookie of the Year finished 2023 fourth on the Big Green in points with 27, tied for second in assists (9) and fourth in goals (18).

Johnston, Myers, Davis Named Captains
Dartmouth head men's lacrosse coach Sean Kirwan announced the Big Green captains in January, which included fifth years Andrew Johnston and Mitchell Myers, and senior Nate Davis. The captains were chosen by their peers.

Four Pick Up Postseason Honors
Following a strong season of progress, four members of the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team were recognized with postseason Ivy League awards. Emmett Paradine was named Rookie of the Year, the Big Green's first Ivy League major award winner since 2007. Senior Mitchell Myers and junior Nate Davis were both named second team All-Ivy while junior Peter Lapina was named Academic All-Ivy.

Paradine becomes Dartmouth's fifth all-time Ivy League major award winner, all being Rookies of the Year. The others were Ari Sussman (2007), Jamie Coffin (2003), Brian Merritt (1994) and Jenkins Marshall (1981).

This also marked the first time Dartmouth had multiple players named first or second team All-Ivy in consecutive seasons since 2005-06. Myers was named to the first team and Daniel Hincks to the second team last season.
Follow Along
Thursday's game can be seen live on ESPN+.

Next Up
After Thursday's contest, the Big Green travel to our nation's capital next week to face No. 11 Georgetown on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Schedules