Strong First Half Leads Gopher Field Hockey Past Ferrum

Sept. 10 – Ferrum, Va. – The Goucher College field hockey team used a three-goal first half, and held on late, to earn their second-consecutive victory, a 4-2 decision over Ferrum College on Saturday afternoon.

The Gophers used a quick strike early in the game as senior Annie Carter scored her first goal of the season off a pass from Rachel Crain, just three minutes in, to give Goucher a 1-0 lead.

Goucher would then tack on two more tallies in the first half to take a commanding 3-0 advantage into the halftime break.

Just two minutes after Carter's score, junior Kristen Shklanko tallied her second score of the season on an unassisted goal to push the lead to 2-0.

With less than two minutes remaining in the half, sophomore Danielle Nixon would net her first goal of the 2016 campaign, also unassisted, rounding out the scoring in the first frame.

The Gophers dominated the field in the first half of play, outshooting Ferrum 13-2 in the opening stanza. They also controlled the penalty corners, taking five in the half to Ferrum's zero.

The second half continued much like the first, with the Gophers taking a majority of the shots that were seen in the game.

Ferrum, however, responded by placing two of their three shots in the second stanza in the net. The first came from Destanee Cutler at the 38:47 mark, while the second, a goal by Sierra Magdaleno, pulled the game to 3-2 with just under 12 minutes left.

With the game still hanging in the balance, the Gophers received some breathing room in the form of a late-stage goal from Crain. After a shot from Valerie Mendoza was kicked aside by the Panther goal keeper, Crain was there to bury the rebound, giving Goucher a 4-2 advantage.

The Gophers have been dominate in their ball control over the last two outings, outshooting the Panthers by a margin of 32-5 throughout the game. Combined with their totals from their previous win over Randolph-Macon, Goucher has now outshot their opponents by a total of 58-5.

Offensively in the match, Goucher was led by Crain, who finished the day with three points (one goal/one assist). Crain has now tallied three goals and an assist in her last two outings, leading the team with seven points.

Other offensive leaders included Nixon, Shklanko and Carter who all finished with a goal, each, while Mendoza and Olivia Dickert notched one assist, apiece.

Despite the wide margin in shots, no Gopher had more than four in the game, as the team saw 13 different players record at least one try. Both Crain and Mendoza placed a trio on goal, while Dickert, Shklanko and Jackie Juarez totaled two.

Now at .500 on the season, the Gophers will continue the 2016 campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 14 against Stevenson University. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the night game at Beldon Field as the "White Out" will also feature chances for prizes during the game. The match with the Mustangs is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.