HANOVER, N.H. -- Junior Ari Sussman (New Haven, Conn.) had a hat trick to lead the Big Green in a 7-4 victory over Vermont, Friday, on Memorial Field. The win brings Dartmouth's record to 2-1. Junior Andrew Kelleher put the Catamounts on the board first with a goal just over a minute into the game. Jimmy Mullen (Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) responded with his first goal of the game to knot the score at one to end the first period.

The game was a defensive battle throughout. "It was good to see our defense hold them to four goals, making the stops when we needed to," said Coach Bill Wilson. In the second quarter Mullen and Sussman sandwiched a goal each around Kelleher's second goal of the game to make it 3-2 at halftime. Local standout Kyle Sminkey from White River Jct., Vermont assisted on Kelleher's goal and again in the fourth quarter had another assist.

"While we executed on offense at times, however, we weren't rewarded as many of our shots hit the pipe," said Wilson. In the first half Dartmouth had one shot ring off the cross bar. In the second half five Big Green attempts rang off the iron.

The third quarter was a shutout as neither team could get the ball in the net. Dartmouth outshot Vermont 12-7 in the quarter. "Our offense handled the pressure in the second half with more poise and teamwork and increased the intensity around the perimeter," added Wilson. The fourth quarter was all Dartmouth as the Big Green outshot the Catamounts 14-8, scoring four goals, three in a span of just over two minutes.

Sophomore Benji Spanier (Alexandria, Va.) scored his first collegiate goal to start the run with an assist from Mullen. Brian Koch (Rye, N.H.) had a man-up goal with an assist from Jonathan Livadas at 2:49 and Sussman rounded out the scoring with his third of the game at 1:47. Brandon Goodwyn scored for Vermont with 24 seconds remaining to make the final, 7-4.

Junior Pat Marshall (Lutherville, Md.) got the win for Dartmouth with eight saves. Michael Novosel (Somers, N.Y.) replaced him in the second half and had four saves. In goal for Vermont was senior Justin Lubas, who stopped eight shots.

Dartmouth has a week off for exams before traveling to Georgia to take on No. 5 Notre Dame at the Lovett School in Atlanta on March 15. Start time for that game is at 2:00 pm.

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HANOVER, N.H. - Sophomore Ari Sussman, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, scored three goals to lift Dartmouth to a 7-4 win over Vermont at Scully-Fahey Field on Friday afternoon. Freshman Derek Lichtfuss (Lutherville, Md.) scored with 9:18 left in the game to pull the Catamounts within a goal at 4-3. But Vermont would get no closer as they fell to 0-4 on the season while Dartmouth improved to 2-1.

Junior Andrew Kelleher (Delmar, N.Y.) added a pair of goals to extend his team-high total to seven on the season. Junior Brandon Goodwyn (Bethesda, Md.) also had a goal and sophomore Kyle Sminkey (White River Jct., Vt.) dished out two assists for the Catamounts.

Vermont's defense held Dartmouth to just 15 shots on goal despite losing 13-of-14 face offs as a team. Senior Justin Lubas (Freehold, N.J.) made eight saves and grabbed three ground balls for the Catamounts. Junior Michael Watson (Albany, N.Y.) had a team best four ground balls.

The game was tied 2-2 when Jimmy Mullen scored for Dartmouth with just one second remaining in the first half to put the Big Green ahead at intermission. Kelleher scored both of Vermont's goals in the first half.

After a scoreless third period, Sussman scored his second of three goals in the game with 9:42 left to put Dartmouth ahead 4-2.

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2008-03-07