Crain's Goal Breaks Deadlock as Gophers Top Vixens

AMHERST, Va. — Rachel Crain (Charlotte Hall, Md./Chopticon) deflected a long hit by Lizzie Barminski (Ventura, Calif./Buena) in for what proved to be the game-winning goal with 11:03 left to play this afternoon as Goucher downed Sweet Briar, 2-1.

The game was the final non-conference tune-up before head coach Megan Williams' Gophers take on Moravian in the first Landmark Conference contest of the season for both teams on September 27.

Even though Goucher outshot Sweet Briar, 12-1, in the first half of today's game, the two teams were knotted up at 1-1 after 35 minutes. Emily Gill (White Hall, Md./North Harford) set up the first goal with a pass to Annie Carter (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline), who tapped it in at 15:21 to put the Gophers (5-2) ahead.

Allison McLamb tallied the equalizer by finishing off a long pass from Hannah Oybkhan with under two minutes remaining before halftime.

Demie Huffman (Granville, Ohio/Granville) played the entire 70 minutes in goal for Goucher and made her only save early in the second half on a shot by Kimberly Orchowski.

Katie Torretti started in goal for Sweet Briar and was credited with 17 saves before being lifted in the final minute of the contest. The Vixens (0-8) received some help in keeping the score deadlocked at 1-1 in the form of a defensive save by Eve Mergenthaler on a shot by Justine Ruhlin (Cornish, Maine/Sacopee Valley) with approximately five minutes left to play.