The men’s soccer team will look to break a three-game losing streak on Saturday when they travel to Dartmouth, N.H. to take on the Big Green. Dartmouth (5–3–1, 0–1 Ivy) has defeated Yale (1–8–1, 0–1 Ivy) in five of the last six meetings. The last thirteen matchups between them have ended up in either one-goal decisions or draws, including last season when the Elis fell to the Big Green 2–1 in double-overtime at home.
“Dartmouth has always been a strong team, and judging from past results it should be a close game,” goalie Bobby Thalman ’13 said.
Both the Yale and Dartmouth squads are coming out of losses in their Ivy openers —the Elis to Harvard, 1–0 and the Big Green to Princeton, 3–0. But the Bulldogs will face a Dartmouth team riding the momentum of a 3–2 comeback win against regional rival Vermont last Wednesday. The Catamounts had the lead with just ten minutes remaining in the game before Dartmouth was able to score two goals within 47 seconds of each other to secure the win.
But the Bulldogs can ride some confidence of their own as well after staying within one goal of No. 17 St. John’s last week. The team will look to shut down the Big Green offense and continue to hold strong in the back half.
“With all the 1–0 losses piling up, both myself and the defense are looking to provide a shutout,” Thalman said.
The offense will have to fight hard to find the back of the net, something that has been tough for the Bulldogs this season – the team has recorded just five goals in their last ten games.
The Elis will have to watch out for Dartmouth junior Lucky Mkosana who scored both goals for the Big Green in last year’s match up. Mkosana is fifth on the team in points this season with only one goal. Bulldog midfielder Scott Armbrust ’13 scored the lone tally for the Bulldogs.The sophomore is back in action Saturday from a calf injury that has sidelined him for most of the season.
While the Bulldogs are expecting a close match with the Big Green this weekend, Thalman said the team won’t be focusing on the past or Dartmouth’s record.
“Dartmouth is definitely a team that deserves respect, but at the same time it’s our play that is most important,” he said.
The matchup is slated for Saturday at 7p.m. at Dartmouth’s Burnham Field.