BROOKLINE -– In a frigid Tuesday evening matchup with Dartmouth, Northeastern broke free of their scoring struggles to earn a 4-2 victory.
The Huskies entered the matchup with a 1-4-7 record on the season. Those seven ties included the four consecutive games prior to Tuesday’s matchup with Dartmouth.
They had scored more than one goal in a game just once this season (a 4-1 win over Merrimack on Sept. 10), and had just two goals combined over their last seven games.
On the other end, Northeastern’s defense had been at the top of their game entering the contest. The Huskies had given up just 11 goals in 12 games this season, including just twice in their last four games. Goalkeeper Colby Hegarty had led the way in that department, as the graduate student has been arguably the Huskies best player throughout the season.
Northeastern started the game off strong, scoring in the third minute of play. Junior defender Jaden Prado sent a centering pass past the outstretched leg of Dartmouth goalkeeper Costi Christodoulou to senior Ethan Franco. The striker slotted it home for his first goal as a Husky. Sophomore defender Thomas Vold picked up an assist along with Prado.
Prado proved to be too much for the Dartmouth defense to handle all night long, as he used his speed and skill with the ball to torment the Big Green throughout the game.
Despite the slow start, Dartmouth found their footing as the first half progressed. 30 minutes into the half, they scored the equalizer. A rare turnover from the Northeastern defense led to a breakaway opportunity for Dartmouth’s Phineas Callahan, who made no mistake slotting the shot into the bottom corner.
Northeastern’s central midfielders, freshman Ethan Kang and junior Morris Matthews, were strong throughout the contest, controlling the pace of play for large stretches of time. With about five minutes to play in the first half a Huskies attacker was tripped inside the box, leading to a penalty chance, and an opportunity to regain the lead.
Junior forward Fraser Brown scored off the penalty with ease, sending the ball right down the middle to score in a second straight game. The goal, his third of the season, gave him sole possession of the team lead in that department. The tally proved to be the turning point of the contest.
The Huskies started the second half the same way they started the first, scoring within the first couple of minutes. A miscue by the Dartmouth back line left Sebestian Restrepo all alone with the Big Green goalie, who was helpless as the forward calmly put the ball in the top right corner of the net to give Northeastern a 4-1 lead.
Dartmouth’s Phineas Callahan was able to respond just four minutes later, with a free kick goal from just outside the box. Hegarty, who had been exceptional all night, never even had a chance as Callahan buried the ball in the left side of the goal.
Callahan was the lone bright spot for the Big Green offense, scoring two goals on seven shots. Despite his efforts, Dartmouth struggled to get anything going for the rest of the second half.
Northeastern’s defense and midfield did a masterful job of controlling the pace of the game. Prado, along with centerbacks Andrew WIlbert and Vold stymied any offensive development from dangerous strikers Eidur Baldvinsson and Trenton Blake throughout the rest of the half. Dartmouth only mustered four shots in the second half, compared to the 13 they got off in the first. The ball controlling, defensive style of play that Northeastern head coach Jeremy Bonomo is known for ran down the clock without ever giving Dartmouth a chance to get back in it.
The Huskies hope to carry their newfound momentum into their final three games of the regular season against Delaware, Elon, and UNC WIlmington. The Huskies currently sit at 10th place in the CAA, four spots out of a postseason berth. However, if they are able to win out, Northeastern may be able to reach the playoffs in Bonomo’s inaugural season.
The team returns to Parsons Field for their CAA matchup against the Blue Hens on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.