Gophers Prevail in OT on Follow by Barminski

TOWSON, Md. — Sometimes it really does pay to be in the right place at the right time. It worked out that way twice for Goucher in today's game on Beldon Field against Sweet Briar.

The first time it happened was in the opening minute of the second half. Goucher's Lizzie Barminski (Ventura, Calif./Buena) got off the first shot of the period, but she was denied by the opposing goalie. Fortunately Rachel Crain (Charlotte Hall, Md./Chopticon) was right where she needed to be to clean up the rebound, providing the Gophers with a 1-0 lead.

It wasn't until the two teams were locked in a 1-1 tie and the game had advanced more than nine minutes into overtime that it happened a second time. It started with Annie Carter (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) unleashing a shot that banged hard off the crossbar, but the ball caromed back to where Barminski could quickly fire it into the goal.

Barminski tallied her in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time goal 9:25 into overtime and it made Goucher a 2-1 victor.

It was a challenge the entire game for the Gophers (2-5) to get a shot past Skylar Rowan, who went the distance in goal for the Vixens. She made seven saves in the first half, seven more in the second half and then her 15th on a shot by Crain in OT.

Demie Huffman (Granville, Ohio/Granville), who patrolled the goal at the opposite end of the field from Rowan, came close to her first shutout of the season and fourth of her career. The sophomore kept the Vixens (1-5) off the scoreboard by making six saves until they were awarded a penalty stroke with 1:35 remaining in regulation. Loralei Whittaker successfully converted the attempt, creating the 1-1 tie which eventually led to overtime.

This was Goucher's first win over an opponent from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference since 2001. The Gophers had already lost to ODAC members Roanoke, 2-0, and Washington & Lee, 4-2, this season.