Rams Defeated at No. 6 Dartmouth, 2-0

Sept. 13, 2009

HANOVER, N.H. - The Rhode Island men's soccer team fell to No. 6 Dartmouth in the final game of the Nike Hypertherm Classic, Sunday afternoon at Burnham Field. Rhody junior Dwayne Williams (Westmoreland, Jamaica) received the tournament's Defensive MVP award.

"Its never easy facing a nationally-ranked opponent on their home field," explained head coach John O'Connor. "But I think our guys handled themselves well. Before the game, I stressed the importance of limiting Dartmouth's corner kicks and throw-ins and I think, defensively, we did a great job with this."

Rhode Island opened the game with an aggressive attack, forcing a pair of corner kicks and three shots on goal within the first 20 minutes of play.

It was Dartmouth's Daniel Keat, however, who broke the scoreless tie when he hooked a free kick from 18 yards out around the wall of URI defenders and into the back of the net at the 24:21 mark.

The Rams continued to test Big Green keeper Lyman Missimer, forcing him to make three more saves before the end of the half.

Keat - who was named Offensive MVP - struck again after the break, converting a penalty kick in the 61st minute to give Dartmouth the 2-0 victory.

"It was a couple bad fouls that cost us the game," added O'Connor. "Both of their goals came off set pieces so I think we just need to me more careful about taking penalties in dangerous spots. They're a top-10 program though and when you give a good team like that chances - they are going to make the most of them."

For the game, Rhode Island held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks while both URI and Dartmouth attempted 10 shots each - seven on goal. Senior goalkeeper Chris Pennock (Spennymoor, England) recorded five saves on the afternoon while Missimer made seven stops to earn the shutout.

The loss drops URI to 2-2-0 on the season while Dartmouth improves to 3-0-1.

The Rams are back in action on Wednesday night when they return to the URI Soccer Complex to host Hartford at 7 p.m.

NIKE HYPERTHERM CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS
Dartmouth (1-0-1)
Rhode Island (1-1-0)
Connecticut (0-0-2)
Iona (0-1-1)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Daniel Keat (Dartmouth)
Defensive MVP: Dwayne Williams (Rhode Island)
Goalkeeping MVP: Josh Ford (Connecticut)

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