Gophers Set New Landmark Goal Record, Fall Late to Moravian

TOWSON, Md. — The Goucher field hockey team scored its most goals ever in a Landmark Conference match this afternoon, but it was not enough for the Gophers to end their season with a victory, as they fell 4-3 to Moravian at Beldon Field.

The Greyhounds (9-8, 2-4 Landmark) scored the go-ahead marker with less than four minutes remaining in regulation to complete a three-goal second half and rally from a 3-1 halftime deficit.

Justine Ruhlin (Cornish, Maine/Sacopee Valley) had a pair of goals for the Gophers (4-13, 0-6 Landmark), while Caroline Less (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) scored her first career collegiate goal to open up the scoring.

Less' goal came at 7:07, with the sophomore drilling a backhand shot past goalie Andrea Eck to give Goucher its first conference lead of the season.

Moravian equalized in the 26th minute when Catherine Duffin knocked in a rebound after her initial effort was stopped by Demie Huffman (Granville, Ohio/Granville).

The Gophers quickly responded, however, with Ruhlin stuffing in a rebound after a shot from Lizzie Barminski (Ventura, Calif./Buena) just 1:01 later to jump back out in front.

Ruhlin's second goal was nearly identical, as she again put in a rebound off a Barminksi shot from the left side of goal. Ruhlin concludes the season with 12 goals, which is the most for the field hockey program since Michele Mohlman scored 13 back in 1995. Barminski ends the season with a team-high eight assists.

Moravian had an 11-7 advantage in shots heading into the intermission. After halftime, though, the Greyhounds had 15 of the match's 16 shots, and that pressure would eventually pay off. Keriann Badessa made it 3-2 at 38:25, and Duffin leveled the score eight minutes later. Badessa tallied the game-winner when her shot was deflected off a Goucher defender and past Huffman.

Barminski led the Gophers with three shots. Ruhlin and Annie Carter (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) each added two. Huffman made 11 saves in goal, while Danielle Hallacker (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Twp.) and Sarah Cost (Waterboro, Maine/Massabesic) both registered defensive saves.

Goucher scored two goals in a conference game for the first time since defeating Moravian 3-2 on penalty strokes on Oct. 16, 2010.